Dtn 18 1 16

Metuh speaks from prison, says his arrest a distraction Opeoluwani Akintayo

ÎÎÎNational Publicity Sec-

retary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Olisa

Ï ó&0 Ɠ ƐƆƗ ƌƆ Ɛ ƌƆ ƌƆ è ƄƑƐ Ɛ Ɔƕ Ƈ ƈƋƆƗô

Metuh who was ordered by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja,

on Friday to be remanded in Kuje prison, has described his arrest and the

entire probe of the $2.1b arms fund as ploy to by the Buhari administration to

https://plus.google.com/+DailytimesNgr/posts

distract Nigerians.

dailytimesng

Continued on page 6

www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr

https://twitter.com/DailyTimesNGR

N150

MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016 VOL. 2. NO. 25

GAINERS

LOSERS

NSE GAINERS AND LOSERS AS AT 15th January 2016.

NB

92.33

96.9

4.57%

UBA

2.59

2.6

0.01%

NESTLE

779

740.05 -38.95%

WAPCO

91.31

86.75

-4.56%

LIVESTOCK

1.16

1.21

0.05%

VANLEER

9.83

9.83

0%

7UP

175

166.25

GUARANTY

14.81

13.37

-1.44%

-8.75%

Buhari writes NASS to withdraw 2016 Budget Olufemi Samuel, Abuja

^ƏƆ ƈƗƆ Ɛ LƑ ƌƌ ƗƑ Ƒ Əƈ æƌƈƗƗƋƆç ƄƆƈ ƏƆƅƆƈƒƆƗ Ƅƕ d ƆƈƊ dƑƋƐ ƈ ƕƆƗè ƢƏƗ #ƆƍƑƐƕ ^ƏƈƌƆ Lƈ ƈ ƐƆƏ Ƈ Ɛ Ɔ n ƈƐƆƗ Ə Ƅ &ƌƈƏ ƐƆ æƏƈ Ɛç Ɨ ƌƄ Ɨ Ə Ƈ Mƈ ƆƏƈ Ɛ n &è ƌƄê 9ƄƏ ƈƌ ƑƓ ƋƑ Ɛ Ɛ Ɔ ^ƏƆ ƈƗƆ Ɛƈ Ƌ zƈ Ƈ Ɛ Ɔ ƄƑ # Ƅƈ 9 ƐƆƏ Ɛƈ Ƌ ƈƏƍ ƏƐè n ƈƐƆƗ Ə Ƅ &ƌƈƏ ƐƆ êêê dƑ Ɨ ƕ

MM^ Ɛ ƄƑƈƋƗ ƆƓ ƌƆ Ɛ Ɛƈ ƈ ƆƒƆƏƕ g B 1 Ɔ Ɛ Əƈ Ƌ Ɨƈ ƐƏƈƅƐ

ƣÖ ƕƆ Ə ƇƐƆƏè g 12 R ƈ ƍ ƕ ƈ Ɛ Əƈƅ ƒƈ ƈƐ Ɛ Ƌ Ƈƈ

The controversy surrounding the 2016 Budget which was first allegedly withdrawn by the Presidency, then became ‘missing’ at the Senate and then officially declared as being of two versions by the upper chamber of the National Assembly has now been laid to rest.

President Muhammadu Buhari has now written the National Assembly to withdraw the controversial 2016 Appropriation Bill which he presented on December 22, 2015.

This development was on Sunday confirmed by Senator Ita Enang, Buhari’s Special Adviser on Legislative matters (Senate).

Controversy over the budget heightened toContinued on page 6

Kehinde Bankole

0Ə ƌ Ɔ ƑƐƕ ƎƑƆƆ è ƌ ƗƆƋƋƈ Ɛ ƅƐƈ g L1

# ƈƋƕ jƈƌƆ ƍ ƏƐ ƆƏ Ɔ Ɛƌ 1 ƌƆ Ƈ Ə L ƍ Ƌƕ ƌƆ L Ɨ ƕ g L4, L5

Ï Pipelines bombing: Soldiers invade Tompolo’s hometown, JTF warns community leaders g12

2

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 18, 2016

SUITES

HOTEL

GARDENS

Plot 1415 Adetokunbo Ademola Street, PMB 12724 Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria, Tel: +23412772700-5 (ext,6124) +23414606100 -29 Fax +234 1 2704071 sales@ekohotels.com, reservation@ekohotels.com banquet@ekohotels, www.ekohotels.com

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 18, 2016

3

Politics Page Three Æ s Editorial Granting autonomy to local governments

R

ecently, the Conference of 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (Conference 57) in Lagos State endorsed the interference of state governments in the running of local government affairs in the country.

The Conference based its endorsement on section 162(6) of the 1999 Constitution, which states that each state “shall maintain a special account to be called State Joint Local Government Account into which shall be paid all allocations of the state from the Federation Account and government of the state”.

We are unequivocally opposed to the position of Conference 57 as its resolution is anti-people. The meddling of state governments in the affairs of local governments has continued to stifle the growth of this tier of government.

It is pertinent to remind the Conference that the Nigeria Constitution 1999(as amended), states that local governments are to function as the third tier of government, after the federal and state governments respectively. Unfortunately, this has not been the case. At present, Nigeria has 774 local governments, which are vested with bringing development to millions of Nigerians at the grassroots. The drafters of the constitution took cognisance of the fact that since majority of Nigerians live in the rural areas, there is need to establish an administration that would bring government to closer to them.

The constitution is also aware that in bringing development to this class of Nigerians, those invested with the responsibility must be given the financial and political independence to discharge their duties. Unfortu-

nately, the local government system has been so undermined that it can no longer effectively play its role as an agent of development at the community level in the country. This is despite the huge allocations made to this tier of government from the Federation Account.

It has been alleged that some state governments frequently divert most of the funds meant for the councils to other purposes, instead of the development of the councils. This was possible because the funds for the local councils were paid from the Federation Account into the state and local government joint accounts that are controlled by the state governments which are either misappropriated, misapplied or diverted outright into private accounts without a whimper either from the council officials or the state legislatures.

Today, majority of the local governments lack any modicum of development. Rather, poverty is increasing at the local level as people are denied access to the basic necessities of life such as potable water, functional schools, primary health care services, electricity, feeder roads, etc. This is not the way of democracy. It cannot be allowed to continue.

It bears repeating that before the military incursion into politics in 1966, the country’s local government system was very functional and effective, as the issues of security, agriculture and jobs creation were actually being addressed.

Nigeria must return autonomy to local governments if we are to address the challenge in our economy, polity and social life. We therefore recommend autonomy for local governments to ensure that the dividends of democracy get to the people at the grassroots.

Erroneous belief among public officials Sam Nzeh

ÏÏÏLately, a subtle but er-

roneous belief has emerged in Nigeria’s political landscape. And it is the thinking that government and its officials are super humans and above mistakes.

Consequently, once government has decided on an issue or made a presentation, there is no going back, no change of mind, no rethinking or rejigging a policy.

That is exactly what is happening with the 2016 Budget presented to the joint session of the National Assembly in December 2015

by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Shortly after the presentation, news filtered in that the budget had been withdrawn by the Presidency.

The Presidency and the

Ministry of Finance quickly debunked the report.

But on Tuesday last week, when the Senate resumed from the Yuletide recess, the matter resurfaced but this time taking embarrassing dimension. The Leader of the Senate, Ali Ndume, told the senators during an executive session that the 2016 Budget document could not be found.

Thereafter, the Senate mandated the Appropriation Committee chairman, Danjuma Goje, to lead a search party for the document. Again, the Presidency denied that the document was missing or withdrawn.

But on Thursday, the Senate confirmed that the version of the document which was officially submitted to it by President Buhari was different from the copies circulated to members by Senior Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly (Sen-

Words On Marble :

ate), Senator Ita Enang.

One obvious fact in this imbroglio is that the Federal Government and its officials have not come clean on the 2016 Budget. The Presidency cannot say it was not privy to the circulation of a ‘fake’ version of the document to Senators

by Enang.

Nothing is wrong if Federal Government after submitting any document, be it the 2016 Budget or any document whatsoever, to the National Assembly, decides to withdraw it perhaps to correct some anomalies. What is wrong is when government lives in denial, when government and its officials believe that admitting a wrong step/action is sign of weakness. So, when government discovers a need to step back from a course, rework a policy or document, it should do so and explain reason for its action (s).

This is what transparency in government is all about.

STATEMENTS BY THOSE WHO MATTER

Publisher/Editor in Chief – Fidelis Anosike Managing Editor Yinka Olujimi Daily/ Online Editor Biodun Durojaiye Deputy Editor/Southern Bureau Chief Sam Nzeh Deputy Editor/Northern Bureau Chief Lateef Ibrahim

Group News Editor Segun Adio Politics Editor Akintola Akinjide Business Editor Friday Atufe Head, Graphics/Design King Ododoru

Group Managing Director Noel Anosike Group Executive Commercial/ Business Developement Ifeoluwa Isijiola 08086296714 Head Finance/Shared services Simpa Ajayi

Business Dev. Manager Bello Ganiyu Sales & Marketing Manager Tunde Dosumu Technical Adviser To Publisher Innocent Nwankwo Adverts/Partnerships/ Corporate Subscription Ifeanyi Emefu 08086296714 Konnie Agu 09033765031

More info: www.dailytimes.com.ng https://plus.google.com/+DailytimesNgr/posts https://twitter.com/DailyTimesNGR

dailytimesng www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr

Alex Ekwueme

Ayo Adebanjo

John Cardinal Onaiyekan

“History repeats itself and… when history repeats itself, it comes as a tragedy and those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it”.

“There is nothing good to write home about the military regime because each time they come, they set the country backwards”.

“Politicians should learn to forgive and stop using their power to hunt their enemies”.

44

Daily Times Nigeria Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 18, 2016 Friday, November 13, 2015

‘PEACE ADVANTAGE’ Frequent Flyer Program

Overview PROGRAM OVERVIEW The Air Peace “Peace Advantage” Frequent Flyer Program is a customer initiative by Air Peace to show appreciation to & continuously reward its frequent flyers for their patronage from inception of Air Peace flight operations. The Peace Advantage FFP offers distinctive value to frequent fliers by delivering ‘recognition’, ‘rewards’ and differentiated service levels with an integrated customer interaction strategy to allow for continuous customer expression & feedback via a unique smartphone app (Android/iOS/blackberry 10 versions) and a dedicated website.

The “Peace Advantage” FFP aims to clearly communicate to Air Peace customers the value Air Peace places on their patronage & Air Peace’s commitment to building long lasting mutually beneficial relationships with its customers. The basic principle being that – The More You Fly with Air Peace, The More You Get Back From Air Peace.

The “Peace Advantage” Program rewards program members with an exchangeable loyalty currency called “Peace Points” for all their qualifying International, Regional & Domestic flights on Air Peace. Earned ”Peace Points” can be exchanged by program members for Air Peace flights nationwide, and in Future Air Peace promotional offers, gift merchandise, vouchers & other lifestyle related items from a dedicated online rewards catalogue – The Air Peace Loyalty Shop. In addition, program members will also be entitled to additional benefits – discounts & status benefits – from a network of Air Peace partners nationwide.

EARNING “PEACE POINTS” Peace Points are awarded to program members for flights flown as follows

The “Peace Advantage” program has 4 Member levels - Peace Bronze, Peace Silver, Peace Gold & Peace Platinum with the following benefits – TIER BENEFITS & QUALIFICATION

**Based on Availability

All individuals / passengers above 16 years of age will be eligible to enrol in the Peace Advantage Program, whilst to cater for our numerous passengers with families, Family Memberships will be allowed for passengers / individuals below 16 years of age, who will be enrolled under a parent / adult utilizing the Family Membership option.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 18, 2016

5

ASSOCIATION OF LICENSED SET TOP BOX MANUFACTURERS OF NIGERIA (STBMAN)

NBC’S MISSING N17 BILLION The attention of the Association of the Licensed Set Top Box Manufacturers of Nigeria (STBMAN) has been drawn to the news of the arrest of the Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) in connection with alleged financial impropriety in the sum of about N34Billion.

The Reports went further to state that the sum of N17 billion was being kept in a secret Account in an un- named bank and used to pay for some “special projects” in defiance of the recently introduced Single Treasury Account (TSA) and in a veiled manner, reference was made to the issue of Set Top Boxes thus insinuating some wrongful actions on the part of the NBC and members of the Association in the report.

While the Association appreciates and stands firmly with the FGN in its fight against corruption, it feels duty bound to inform the members of the public on matters that tend to cast doubts over genuine and well thought out programmes of government and other stake holders who bring such programmes into fruition.

Similarly, the Association hereby states that it is in no way best placed to comment on the issue of N34 Billion as reported in many media outlets but feels compelled to bring out the facts as it concerns the N17 Billion (part of the alleged N34 billion) it is privy to by the simple fact that the amount (N15 Billion) is the total sum posted by the NBC as off-Take guarantee for the various loans taken by the Licensed manufacturers of the STBs for the Launch of the Digital Switch Over and not N17Billion.

In the interest of transparency and for the benefit of the public, these are the facts within the Association’s knowledge. a.

It will be recalled that the FGN in line with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) had approved the migration from Analogue transmission to Digital with the tag “Digital Switch Over” (DSO) and earmarked November 2015 as the Launch Date with Jos, Plateau State as the Pilot Scheme for Nigeria. b.

In NBC’s bid to promote local industry and conserve foreign exchange as well as create job opportunities for our youths, it issued licenses to some 13 indigenous companies to manufacture the Set Top Boxes that will be needed for the successful implementation of the phased transition. c.

However, owing to the very short period available for the transition, i.e from the time of licensing, setting up of manufacturing plants and the Launch date, the manufacturers were allowed to import the first set that will be used for the pilot scheme and thereafter to manufacture the rest locally and to this end, they were allocated different lots to manufacture.

d.

Considering the fact that the business is a novel one in this part of the world and the fact also that bureaucratic bottle-necks normally hamper the smooth processing of Applications, the various companies came together under the auspices of STBMAN to work in unison to achieve timely and better negotiation results both with the financing institutions and manufacturing companies outside the country. e.

Considering also the challenges associated with payments from government and the fact that the funds were to be sourced by way of bank Loan and the imperative of the Launch particularly at this time and in order to meet the timelines and serve as incentive for investment as required in transaction of this nature, members requested for an OFF-TAKE GUARANTEE from NBC as to enable for borrowing and this was granted in the form of Guarantee thus paving the way for the securing and ware-housing of the N15 Billion long before the FGN’s pronouncement and directive on the Treasury Single Account (TSA). f.

As earlier indicated, each company submitted its Application as an entity but negotiated with the banks under the banner of the Association and even at that, it took quite some time for the Applications to be processed but so far, members have been able to achieve tangible results and some are set to deliver at designated points once the Receiving counterpart confirms its readiness.

Gleaning through the Newspaper reports, a person that is not properly seized of the facts will assume that the NBC secretly kept funds for some illegal use when in actual fact, this particular sum had long been encumbered and no more within the control of NBC and its role now was to ensure that deliveries were made for the funds released. while we support the FGN in its fight against corruption and are prepared to offer any assistance in that regard it is our firm view that the DSO project is not only a priority but “a must do “for the country considering our standing in the African continent. It is not an overstatement to say that Nigeria should set the pace for others to follow but in this instance we are playing “catch up” and it is our sincere belief that time is not on our side as a country to be lacking behind in things of this nature.

In conclusion, we state without any doubt that the process leading to the grant of Licenses and indeed the various slots given to the various companies were done with the best interest of the nation at heart and was done in a transparent, fair manner. It is on record that critical stake-holders like the Broadcasters Organization of Nigeria (BON), Association of Cable Operators of Nigeria, Licensed manufacturers and members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists were involved at one stage or the other, thus it is our strong belief that with the current state of affairs, not only will jobs be created for our teaming youths, the scarce Foreign Exchange will be conserved and local industry and content will be promoted if momentum is sustained.

Signed MR. ANOCHIE AMASIANI SECRETARY ASSOCIATION OF LICENSED SET TOP MANUFACTURERS OF NIGERIA ( STBMAN)

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 18, 2016

Buhari writes NASS to withdraw Budget Continued from page 1 wards the end of last week as the Senate alleged that two copies of the budget were in circulation amid suspicion that the original copy of the 2016 budget had been tinkered with to make way for a secret amendment by the Presi-

dent.

On Sunday, before Senator Enang issued the statement to confirm Buhari’s request, there were reports by online newspapers that President Muhammadu Buhari had communicated the leadership of the National Assembly, calling for a

formal withdrawal of the budget, although no official of the Senate could affirm that a letter from Buhari to this effect was in place.

When contacted then, the Senate Spokesman, Aliyu Sabi said the Senate was expecting a communication on Budget issues

from President Buhari, stating however that he was not aware whether or not the President had forwarded the communication to the Senate.

President Buhari had left Nigeria early on Sunday for a Summit on energy at the United Arab Emirates and is expected

Ooni of Ife , Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II (left) and Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III during the 45th Coronation anniversary thanksgiving service of the Alaafin in Oyo… on Sunday.

PHOTO: SODIQ ADEKUNLE

back into the country on Tuesday.

There have been reports that the 2016 Budget submitted by President Buhari contained some fundamental flaws, top of which centers on observations that what his government proposed spending on recurrent is more than that of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Critics of the budget have also berated it on the basis that its projection on general expenditure of N6.8 Trillion for 2016 may not be realistic in view of the global economic recession and the dwindling revenue for Nigeria.

The 2016 budget had ran into a hitch initially with the bench mark of $38 per barrel of oil proposed while the oil revenue at the international market has consistently been dropping standing at about $32 per barrel at the moment.

President Buhari in the budget had indicated that his government would fund the budget with proceeds and revenues from taxation, Customs and recovered stolen funds.

Daily Times can report that both the executive

arms and the legislator have not agreed on a specific term for addressing the flaws in the budget amid allegations that the Presidency had called for the withdrawal.

Last week, the Senate after alleging that the Presidency through Ita Enang, Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Legislative Matters was responsible for reports on missing 2016 budget, insisted that it would only work on the original copy of the budget presented to the joint sitting of the National Assembly in December.

The withdrawal of the 2016 Budget is likely to alter the time frame set by the National Assembly for debating and passage.

The Senate had said it would commence debate on the budget on Tuesday and round up the process on Thursday while the budget defence by Ministries and departments would commence thereafter.

The senate said it expected that after dispensing with the budget at the National Assembly level, the implementation process should start from March this year.

Metuh speaks from prison, says his arrest a distraction Continued from page 1

Metuh was arrested and is facing trial for receiving N400 million from the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, while the said sum is believed to be part of a $2.1 billion meant for arms procurement but which was allegedly diverted by Mr. Dasuki.

PDP’s New Media Director, Deji Adeyanju who visited Metuh at the Kuje Prison on Saturday, brought out the embattled politicians messages in a series of tweets over the weekend.

According to Adeyanju, Metuh did not show any sign of giving up on the fight to maintain his innocence on the matter for which he is being prosecuted.

Metuh reportedly said

his arrest was a ploy by Buhari to distract Nigerians from “the real issues”.

“This is what they want to do for the next 3 years.

Distracting Nigerians from the real issues,” Adeyanju quoted Metuh as saying.

Continuing, Metuh reportedly blasted the Buhari administration of having no better plans of alleviating the sufferings of Nigerians rather.

“All they wanted was for me to go into details of how I spent the N400m I was given, then they arrest those people and start showing them on TV… showing people on news and shouting corruption. They have nothing to offer this nation.

No economic plans or plans to create jobs, etc. they want to continue distracting Nigerians,” Adeyanju

further quoted Metuh in his tweet.

“They want to rubbish PDP and kill our party in the process, but they have failed already. All they want to do is to rubbish me and show the whole world that I am corrupt. They want to be putting the story over the news, etc. Deji, my joy, is that they didn’t succeed in what they wanted to do with me. They wanted me to be calling people’s names,” Metuh continued.

Explaining further, the PDP chieftain said he had, before his arrest, told his children about “what truly happened”, that he was only carrying out an assignment given to him by the ex-president, Goodluck Jonathan.

“My son later that night called his sisters and

briefed them on all I said to him and told them “daddy will be arrested but this is the truth. Then I said it is good you know the truth now so that when they start their lies, it will not affect you and your sisters. I asked him if I did anything wrong by carrying out the assignment given to me by the then president, he said NO. I showed him all the evidence of how I spent the money which the president gave me and all the people given with receipts. I narrated to my son how the then president called me and asked me to carry out an assignment for him.”

He alleged that the whole arms deal fraud case was a lie created by Buhari to get back at Dasuki, emphasizing that only Dasuki could explain why he is being

hunted by the Presidency. “… the Buhari regime created everything to get back at Dasuki…the Dasuki trial is a personal vendetta only Dasuki could explain. That he spoke with so many people including contractors in EFCC and they told him the arms GEJ bought was more than $2.1b. Chief Raymond Dokpesi explained to me that there was nothing like the N2.1b arms deal fraud.

That it was all a creation of the Buhari government.

My joy is that before I was arrested, I went to see Chief Raymond Dokpesi in the company of my only son and he explained everything to me”.

Metuh then went ahead to state his position on his prosecution, saying he is unbendable by the present

circumstances.

“If they are doing this to intimidate Olisa Metuh, then they do not know who Olisa Metuh is. Tell them Buhari cannot break us.

Tell them we will never be afraid of Buhari. Tell them to continue doing what they are doing. Buhari is not God and we will never worship him… tell every of our supporters out there to be strong,” Adeyanju ended his tweets.

Metuh

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 18, 2016

ÏÏÏEbonyi State has recorded

its first case of avian influenza infection, as confirmed by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. Uchenna Orji.

He confirmed the detection of the virus on Sunday, while interacting with newsmen, who visited the affected poultry farm at Ugwuachara area of Abakaliki.

According to him, the attention of his ministry was drawn to the development, following massive death of birds at the farm.

“Officials of the state veterinary services took the sample of a bird’s carcass to a research institute in Jos, where it was confirmed that the birds died from the H5NI strains of the avian flu.

“I have directed the veteri-

Ebonyi records first avian flu case nary department of the ministry to isolate the farm and take inventory of all poultry and ancillary farms in the state.

“We will also ensure sustained enlightenment on the influenza to educate the public on precautionary measures to be taken”, he said.

The Director of Veterinary Services and Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr Ibiam Okoro, said that efforts had been intensified to contain the possible spread of the virus.

Kidnappers killed, 11 other criminals arrested in A’ Ibom ÏÏÏThe Police in Akwa Ibom

say they have killed two of a three-man suspected kidnap gang in a gun battle at Idu-Uruan, Uruan Local Government Area.

The suspected kidnappers were said to have kidnapped an elderly woman, Mrs Grace Bassey (74) in her residence at Use in Adadia village.

The State’s Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Cordelia Nwawe, (ASP), who disclosed this, at a news conference in Uyo, on Sunday, said that the suspects suffocated their victim to death in an attempt to prevent

the woman from screaming for help.

“Having killed their victim, the suspects fled to 1000 Unit Estate in Idu Uruan, where the Anti-Robbery Squad, on information, trailed them to the place where the suspected kidnappers exchanged gunfire with the police.

“During the exchange of gunfire, two of the kidnappers were brought down with one escaping with bullet wounds.

“The police recovered two locally-made pistols with five live cartridges, a Toyota Corolla car with no registration number.

Eight years after, Ondo set for LG polls Tosin Ajuwon Akure

ÏÏÏAfter

eight years of legal tussle between the sacked local council bosses and the state government, the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) at the weekend, said it was set to conduct a fresh Local Government election by the 23rd of April, 2016, in all the 18 local council areas in the state.

Chairman of the electoral body, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, who made the announcement at a press briefing with stakeholders in Akure, said the poll would be conducted for local government chairmen in all the 18 local council areas and councilors in the 203 wards in the state in line with section 31(1) of the Electoral Act. Ige disclosed that party primaries elections were expected to be

7 News

conducted by participating political parties between the 28 January and 11 February, 2016, while soliciting for the cooperation of all stakeholders in the electoral process for the commission to deliver a free, fair and credible elections in April.

Said he, “In accordance with the local government administration, conduct of local government election and allied matters law 2004 and in pursuance of the provision of section 30(1) of the electoral act 2010 as amended, I, Prof Olugbenga Ige, Chairman of the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission and the Chief Electoral Officer of Ondo State, hereby give notice that elections into positions of chairman and councillors in all the 18 local government council areas of Ondo State shall hold on Saturday, April 23, 2016.”

L-R: Managing Director/Chief Executive, Fidelity Bank Plc., Nnamdi Okonkwo; Partner, KPMG, Tola Adeyemi; Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Daily Need Group, Tosin Oyin-Jolayemi and President Beloxxi Industries, Obi Ezeude at Nigerian Economic Outlook 2016 which took place at the King’s Court Parish, Redeemed Christian Church, Victoria Island, Lagos...on Sunday.

Ex-Ondo Speaker recounts ordeal in kidnappers’ den Tosin Ajuwon Akure

ÏÏÏThe

erstwhile Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon. Victor Adekanye Olabimtan, who was kidnapped last Sunday night has recounted his harrowing experience in the hands of his abductors.

Speaking to journalists at his residence in Akure, Olabimtan, who wore a dirty cloth with his hands filled with blood stains explained that his vehicle ran into his abductors, who were clad in military camouflage and police uniform.

He said that his captors dragged him and three others into the bush, while shooting sporadically to scare people away.

According to him, he thought the armed men were exchanging fire with police but later discovered that they were robbers.

“When they got to my vehicle, they asked for what I had and I gave them what was on me, very little money, not much money. I gave it to them, and they left. They said we should lie down and we obeyed, but within the twinkle of an eye, some of them came back and asked: ‘Where is Oga?’” He said when they identified him, they dragged him into the bush, saying when he tried to resist, “they gave me a hard slap, and my eyes turned blue and I had to obey and follow them.”

He also disclosed that his kidnappers forced him to walk for several hours through the night to avoid being trailed by the police who apparently were searching for the victim, before they were hidden in a deep pit.

The All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship aspirant said, further, that he had to hide his identity after his captors de-

manded the sum of N20 million from his family to secure his release from the den.

When asked by journalists how much he paid to regain his freedom, Olabimtan confirmed that a ransom was paid to his abductors, but said that “I don’t know how much was paid. There was lots of negotiations. I don’t know how much was paid. I was there believing in God that by His grace, we would be released, I was very fervent in my prayers, and I was fasting and I believed that God would intervene.

“Around 4p.m. on Wednesday, came the news from them, ‘that your ransom has been paid and the ransom of the Chairman, Muslim Pilgrim Welfare Board, has also been paid’, and that, that day, they were going to release us and that we should be prepared to go home.”

Police arrest 11 cultists in Badagry ÏÏÏThe Police, on Sunday, said

that 11 suspected cultists arrested for terrorising residents of Badagry were undergoing interrogation ahead of being charged to court.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that the suspects, believed to be members of a group known as “one millionboys”, were apprehended while trying to rob residents of Toga area of Badagry.

The suspects, who claimed to

Arase

be students, were arrested by vigilante youths in the area on Friday and the timely arrival of the police prevented them from being lynched by an angry mob.

The police apprehended the 11 suspects and took them to the Badagry Police Station.

A police source told NAN that the suspects would be properly interrogated and the culpable ones among them would be charged.

8

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 18, 2016

Politics

Æs

Eight years after, Ondo set to conduct first LG polls in April Ï ^ ƌ ƕ Ƅ ƕƅ ƐƐ ƍ ƋƋ ‘Tosin Ajuwon, Akure After eight years of legal tussle between the sacked local council bosses and the state government, the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commis-

sion (ODIEC) at the weekend, said it was set to conduct a fresh Local Government election by April 23, 2016, in all the 18 local government areas of the state.

Addressing a press briefing with stakeholders in Akure, Chairman of the

electoral body, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, who made the announcement which indicated a clear 90 days time lag as stipulated by law said the poll would be conducted CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Mimiko

Oyegun

Confusion in Kaduna over Shehu Sani’s suspension

Awolowo

Akintola

Ajimobi

Akintola, an unsung hero — Ajimobi Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi has described the slain Premier of the old Western Region, Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola as an unsung hero.

At a lecture marking the 50th death of the second premier of the region in Ogbomoso, the governor said: “This late icon was an unsung hero, not only because of his unprecedented achievements as a politician, a parliamentarian, an astute administrator, but

also because he was a bridge builder in Nigeria’s search for national integration”.

Ajimobi admonished the family of the late premier to reach out and involve more people and political leaders on issues and events relating to the late premier, noting that the political evolution of the contemporary Nigeria began with the political activities and contributions of the likes of Akintola.

Ajimobi said, “Akintola died

at God’s appointed time. It’s our fault that Akintola was not being celebrated the way we should. I want to first blame the family for monopolizing him; then the rest of us. That is why I would want us to start strategizing on how to compensate this nationalist.

“The contemporary political history and evolution of Nigeria begins with the outstanding contributions of many notable nationalists, politicians and statesmen, who were beacons of light in their

There is confusion and palpable tension in Kaduna State following conflicting reports over reported suspension of Senator Shehu Sani, representing Kaduna Central on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

While Sani, a human rights activist and public affairs analyst who has been a thorn in the flesh of Governor Nasir El-rufai of Kaduna was suspended for 11 months by his ward and the state chapter of the party for alleged anti-party crisis, the North-west Zone of the party last Monday in Kaduna countermanded the alleged suspension.

After a meeting held in Kaduna, the North-West zone described the suspension of the senator by the state chapter of the party as illegal.

Chairman of the party in the zone, Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir, said on Monday that as far as the national secretariat of the APC is concerned, Sani remained a bonafide member of the party.

Abdulkadir who was in Kaduna as part of the reconciliation process initiated by the national leadership of the party to resolve the internal crisis rocking the Kaduna APC also warned aggrieved party members to desist from media campaign against one another.

His words: “We are in Kaduna CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

generation. In the forefront, no doubt, was the Late Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola “In the various ministries where he served and most importantly under his watch as the Premier, his administration became the centre of landmark achievements. Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola was an orator, humourist, forceful campaigner, crowd-puller and a frontline politician”, he said.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Sheu Sanni

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 18, 2016

9 Politics

Akintola, an unsung hero — Ajimobi CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

The scion of the family of a late Premier, Ambassador Abayomi Akintola, gave graphic details of the almost twenty-hour siege that culminated in the brutal assassination of his father, during the January 15, 1966 coup.

Recounting the 1966 harrowing experience, he insisted that the body of his father was not mutilated by the mutineers as widely believed, but confirmed that the invaders abandoned his bloodsoaked body at the entrance of the premier lodge.

The event was attended by the Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; his immediate past predecessor, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala; Secretary to the Osun State Government, Alhaji Mashood Adeoti; a former AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Richard Akinjide; Senator Brimmo Yusuf, among others.

Akintola said that none of the premier’s children and their wives was injured while the gun attack lasted, describing their father as a hero who laid down his life and shielded his family from the invaders.

His words: “I was managing a thriving business in Lagos when my late father directed me to relocate to Ibadan when he became premier. Although I was very re-

luctant to leave certainty for uncertainty, I had to defer to him. That was how I came to Ibadan.

“During the coup, about 50 soldiers invaded our house. My father was in a room within the house with us and we begged him not to go out. We shielded ourselves with the big wardrobes in the room as the soldiers began to shoot sporadically.

“At a stage my father told us he wanted to go and meet them, but we begged him not to go. Like the hero that he was, he told us that he would prefer to go and face them and damn the consequences, rather than to allow them to wipe out his family if they continue to hide”.

Akintola said his father eventually confronted the soldiers, who alleged initially ran away, frightened that any living thing in the house could survive under the hail of bullets aimed at every direction of the building.

According to him, it was not until 7am the following day when the family could venture out of the building to discover the body of the family’s patriarch in a pool of his blood.

He described the late premier as a nationalist, a quintessential family man, a democracy lover, an orator and committed politician who did his best to raise the socioeconomic profile of the Western Region.

Awolowo

Akintola

In his lecture, a professor of History from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Enoch Oyedele, traced the country’s social and economic malaise to the 1914 amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates.

According to him, the architect of the merger, Sir Lord Lugard, only succeeded in the administration of the new Nigeria, but failed woefully in uniting the merged people and their diverse interests.

The lecturer admonished the proponents of separatism to perish the thought and team up with compatriots to build the nation, instead of causing disturbances and

violence in different parts of the country.

Oyedele said, “Whether they call themselves Biafra, Boko Haram or any other name, anybody clamouring for the balkanization of this country should forget the idea.

Nigeria is a viable country if its resources are well harnessed and applied.

“Political party system is one of the greatest problems confronting this country today. Political parties are mere platforms being used to win elections. They are not movement of the people. We must restructure this country to redress the unjust political and socio-eco-

Ajimobi nomic structure of Nigeria.

“Unless we upturn ‘the monkey dey work, baboon dey chop’ syndrome, we cannot solve the problem of Nigeria. We need to go back to most of the recommendations of the last National Conference. The centre is too strong today, collecting 53 per cent of allocation from Federation Account”, he stressed.

Speaking against creation of more states, the don expressed optimism that the country could experience a new political order capable of solving the national question if some of the recommendations of the conference were adopted.

Eight years after, Ondo set to conduct first LG polls in April CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

for local government chairmen in all the 18 local council areas and councillors in the 203 wards in the state in line with section 31(1) of the Electoral Act. Ige disclosed that party primaries elections are expected to be conducted by participating political parties between the 28th of January and 11th of February, 2016 and solicited for the cooperation of all stakeholders in the electoral process for the commission to deliver a free, fair and credible elections in April.

“In accordance with the local government administration, conduct of local government election and allied matters law 2004 and in pursuance of the provision of section 30(1) of the electoral act 2010 as amended, I, Prof Olugbenga Ige, Chair-

man of the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission and the Chief Electoral Officer of Ondo State, hereby give notice that elections into positions of chairman and councillors in all the 18 local government council areas of Ondo State shall hold on Saturday, April 23, 2016″, he said.

The electoral body chairman, who promised the determination of the commission to ensure a free level playing ground was given to all political parties participating in the election without any preferential treatment, explained that the delay in the conduct of local government elections in the past eight years in the state was a result of legal injunction which hamstrung the body.

Prof. Ige recalled that consequent upon the dissolution of local government council chair-

Nwobodo

Ekwunife

men in 2009, a legal battle ensued between the state government and the affected council bosses while the later was agitating for reinstatement at the State High and Appeal Court

where the matter was delivered in favor of the state government.

According to him, although the case was taken to the Supreme Court where it was cur-

rently pending, he added that the sacked Council bosses were no longer agitating for reinstatement but now asking for compensation from the state government since they have changed their request as litigants.

“It is crystal clear that the ODIEC can conduct the local government elections in the state since they the ones closer to the grassroot. I also want to make it clear that the election is long overdue because the people have been yearning for it for a very long time,” he said.

Also speaking, Fatai Adams, Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) promised that the political parties would play the game according to its rules and pleaded with the electoral body to give CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Politics 10 A human rights activist and Executive Chairman, Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ), Comrade Adeniyi, Sulaiman has charged stakeholders in the judicial system of the Country including National Judicial Council(NJC),Nigerian Bar Association(NBA) and the human rights community, to ensure that President Muhammadu Buhari obeys court pronouncement on any issue including the ongoing arms deal saga involving former National Security Adviser(NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki, rtd and Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu , accused of treason.

According to him, the flagrant disobedience of Court Order and culture of impunity of present administration should be checkmated by concerned segment of the society.

He insisted that nobody was supporting any form of corruption in Nigeria but the rule of law should be the guiding principle of any action of government, claiming that anybody involved in corruption, no matter his or her position in the land should be made to face the wrath of the law not the law of the mighty as being expressed

by President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 18, 2016

Ensure Buhari obey court orders, activist charges stakeholders

Dasuki

Buhari

Kanu

Comrade Sulaiman who is also chairman, Civil Society Coalition for the Emancipation of Osun State (CSCEO) also condemned the recent controversy surrounding the alleged missing of 2016 Budget Document in the National Assembly, urging Nige-

rians to hold the Presidency and Senate leadership responsible for the missing of the national document.

He frowned at the controversy surrounding the missing document where education sector would have been accorded due

priority describing education as the bedrock of development of any society that is thirsty of human and capital development.

He maintained that the citizens of the nation have constitutional right to free and qualitative education from Primary to

University levels in line with the stipulation of the section 18 of the amended 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, noting that the present administration under Buhari’s watch should ensure that every Nigerian has access to education.

Extolling the virtues of the late human rights activist, social crusader and legal luminary, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN),Sulaiman described GANI as special being created for the liberation of Nigeria masses during his life times, stressing that the late Chief Fawehinmi made an indelible imprint in the sound of time which no Lawyer before and after him could surpass till the present moment.

He stated that Chief Fawehinmi had already shown the way to all his disciples across the world, charging the lawyers in the country to ensure that the section 18 of the amended 1999 Constitution was followed to the letter by the present administration.

Eight years after, Ondo set to conduct first LG polls in April CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

the participating parties a level playing ground as this would help conduct credible polls under a peaceful atmosphere.

Political parties present at the stakeholders meeting were the; PDP, PDC, PDM, SDP, APA, LP, DPC, among others while the APC was absent.

Meanwhile, the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state might boycott the local government election judging by their absence at the stakeholders meeting.

The Daily Times learnt from sources within the party that its leadership are not ‘happy’ over the arrangement of the polls while it also received the notification of the stakeholders meeting late .

A source who spoke with our correspondent under the condition of anonymity said the leadership of the party would have to meet and state its position over the coming polls by issuing a press statement to the ef-

Akeredolu

Mimiko

fect.

“The leaders of the party would have to meet over this issue and state their position.

The outcome I believe would be communicated to journalists in a release”, the source

added.

The Director of Media and Publicity of the party, Steve Otaloro, while speaking with the Daily Times, corroborated the source noting that the party would make its decision

known over the preparation for the poll.

“I cannot state the position for the party now. But, am aware the leadership through the State Executive Members (SEC), would be meeting over the issue and we shall communicate if need be to press”, he said.

However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state has said it would soon set in motion actions geared towards actualising total victory in the coming local government polls.

In a statement issued by its publicity secretary, Banji Okunomo, on Sunday in Akure, he added that for the party to actualize this, its members should embark on aggressive sensitisation of the electorate for it to emerged victorious.

Okunomo said it was informative that the opportunities inherent in the democratic transition of the local councils cannot be underestimated.

“This means when the PDP

wins, many will be incorporated in the grassroots administration. These opportunities cannot be sacrificed for avoidable negligence.

“We must all go back home, interact with our people and let them know that our party is yet to find an alternative in terms of competent governance.

“The coming local government election, no doubt, is a test of the strength of every contending political party in Ondo State and a pointer to the gubernatorial election which comes up later in the year. As such, it requires our collective vigour, cohesion and adequate preparation to achieve optimum success”, he said.

Okunomo added that the PDP) will never settle for anything less than coming out victorious while pleading with party’s member to demonstrate their unalloyed hardwork for the party to emerge successful in the poll.

11 Politics

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 18, 2016

Chris Ngige: How we will turn our youths into entrepreneurs Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, has been speaking on the proposed N5,000 stipend to be paid unemployed Nigerians saying it is not for indolent people as no country in the world can afford to pay stipends to her citizens to be indolent, insisting that Nigeria will not be different.

Speaking with newsmen at the All Progressives Congress (APC) National secretariat in Abuja at the weekend, the minister announced that people who will be given such stipends will go through series of trainings that will make them employable by either the state or federal government. TOM OKPE was there. Excerpts: What criteria is the Federal Government going to use for the disbursement of the proposed stipends to the unemployed youths?

We have the programme on the commission cash transfer, we will not pay N5000 for people to be indolent. No country in the world would pay people to go home and sleep and collect cash, so Nigeria

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

to meet with the party elders in the state on ways to address the problem. Whatever the case may be, there are rules and regulations of the party that is bound on every party member.

“Therefore, as far as the national body of this great party is concerned, the suspension of Shehu Sani from the party is illegal based on the fact that the right procedure was not followed. Even the ward chairman wrote to the national body to say the suspension letter was forged”, he stressed.

In his remarks, a party chieftain in the state, Hakeem Baba Ahmed, who spoke on behalf of the elders of the party, expressed happiness for the intervention of the national leadership, saying it was timely.

Senator Sani, who was also at the meeting, said he will abide by the ‘ceasefire’ agreement brokered by party leaders saying he had no problem with the state governor’s policies but that some people around the governor were fueling the crisis between him and the governor.

A letter had emerged from Senator Sani’s ward in Tudun Wada suspending him from the party for 11 months.

But the chairman of the party in the ward later distanced him-

we will pay more than N10,000, and N15,000 as stipend while in training. After training, they will be employed by the state government or the federal government in different institutions. It is not a programme we shall run alone, the state governments are going to buy into it, they are going to synchronize with us, and we are going to do it in synergy.

Ngige would not be an exception.

We will pay some people N5000, some N10,000 and even for people in teacher conversion scheme,

Will this be a kind of poverty alleviating and skill acquisition programme set up by the federal government again?

The present administration has some poverty alleviating and employment generating programmes, these programmes will span through Ministry of Education, Ministry of Agriculture and my place (Ministry of Labour). We have some agricultural universities; we will convert some people to teach the relevant agricultural science.

The Ministry has specialists skills acquisition centers; We have seven of such in the ministry under the commissioner

of skills or directorate for skills.

The NDE has over 120 centres scattered all over the country, we also have those that have been built by state governments and we want to capture all of these into that scheme and then get people to the scheme; to be bricklayers, to be POP designers, builders, welders, electronics repairer and the one they called Mechatronic, repair of vehicles, automobile, carpentry, painting and fabrication of all sorts.

We are going to do it, teach people, and give them certification, because many people do not know that Ministry of Labour is the only place that can certify tradesmen. These skills acquisition centers are in grades, we have Grade A certification, Grade B, Grade C, D and E, and they all still exist.

So we want to get back our youths, capture them, teach them to use their hands, and when they used their hands, they can earn money by employing themselves. If you get a bricklayer or a painter today,

you cannot pay less than N5000 for a daily job. And if somebody is able to work 20 days in a month for N5000, he already has N100, 000. Today, it is a sad story, that Togolese, Ghanaians; people from Benin and Niger Republics do these entire skilled jobsfor us.

80 percent of workers in that specialized category in construction site all over Nigeria, be it in Abuja, in Lagos or in Onitsha, come from outside; the money or the naira they are paid is repatriated to their country and all of them will come at the end of the day to put pressure on Naira in the foreign exchange market.

So we have decided to train our own youths, let them use their hands to fend for themselves. We will also want to advance some of them into entrepreneurship.

If you are very good, we can open a place for you and give you money through the Bank of Industry and SMEDAN and you will move to the next stage where a number of youth will work with you.

Confusion in Kaduna over Shehu Sani’s suspension self from the suspension, saying the letter was forged.

However, barely 48 hours after the suspension was lifted, the Kaduna State chapter of the party on Wednesday insisted that the suspension of the Senator from the party for 11 months remained in force.

Addressing a press conference in Kaduna, the spokesman of the APC in the state, Salisu Wusono, accused Zonal Chairman, Alhaji Abdulkadir of acting without the consent of the national leadership of the party, and contrary to Section 21 of the party’s constitution.

Mr. Wusono argued that the national vice chairman’s action was a deliberate attempt to ridicule the party for his personal interest.

He said: “The 11-month suspension slammed on Shehu Sani by the Kaduna State APC stands. Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir does not have the power to lift the suspension, and was acting on his own without any authorization by the national leadership of the party.

“What happened on Monday in Kaduna between Abdulkadir and the so-called APC chieftains was an abuse of his office in promoting

El-Rufai

Shehi Sani

the narrow agenda of people who have never been interested in the progress and success of the APC. “Can a Senator in Inuwa Abdulkadir’s Sokoto State abuse and denigrate party leadership without being disciplined? Take this from us, the national leadership of the APC, President Buhari and his Vice- President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and other leaders of the APC are aware of Shehu Sani’s anti-party activities and his involvement in plots to undermine the APC governments at the federal and state levels.

“Shehu Sani is only wasting his time, running from pillar to pillar. He is like a crocodile in a dry river. Senator Shehu Sani stands suspended from participating in all APC activities in the state. Why is he not attending President Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo’s functions in Kaduna? Why is he not participating in our activities? Why is it that the PDP Senator from Southern Kaduna attends critical state functions and not him? All the 11 APC lawmakers in House of Representatives from the state are loyal to our leadership.

All the 28 APC lawmakers in the Kaduna State House of Assembly are standing by the party and its government.

“Shehu Sani has chosen to be on his own, and the APC cannot tolerate his acute irresponsibility and his lack of any appreciation of disciplined political conduct and party discipline.

“There is difference between grandstanding and genuine representation. Kaduna Central, which elected him to the Senate, is one of the most populous senatorial districts in the country with a lot of complexity and dynamism.

“Rather than representing them well, he is consumed by his penchant for popularity shows, and irresponsible comments like someone who has reduced his duty into a perpetual ego trip.”

The APC spokesman accused Senator Sani and his group of trying to use the back door to get back to the party after failing in their attempts to destroy the party in the state.

All efforts to get Senator Sani for his reaction over this new development proved abortive as his phones could not be reached.

News 12

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 18, 2016

Pipelines bombings: Soldiers invade Tompolo’s hometown Moses Osayande, Asaba

ÎÎÎSoldiers, on Saturday

night, invaded Okpelama community, Gbaramatu kingdom in Warri South West Local Government Area, in search of militants, who resumed bombing of crude oil and gas pipelines in state on Thursday night.

The bombings came on the heels of the order by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos for the arrest of leader of the defunct Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, on Thursday.

Our correspondent learnt that the soldiers were also keeping surveillance on Kurutie, the hometown of Tompolo and Oporoza, the traditional headquarters of Gbaramatu kingdom.

A source at the community said the soldiers, who stormed the community with gunboats at about 10.45 pm on Saturday broke into homes of the villagers, many of whom scampered into the bush on sighting them as they alighted at the jetty front.

His words: “We have all relocated to the forest for safety; We saw them (soldiers) breaking into houses, probably in

search of arms and those responsible for the attacks on the pipeline facilities a few days ago.”

He said some members of the community were still in the bush at about 7.30 am Sunday morning.

Chairman of the community corroborated the invasion in a phone call, saying that the people were surprised that soldiers invaded the town, as they had nothing to do with the ongoing attacks by militants.

He disclosed that soldiers did not contact leaders of the community on the reason for their invasion, adding, “at the moment, my community is

practically a ghost town, the people are running away to Warri and other places.”

A security source, however, said “there is information that some of the boys sponsored to carry out the attacks are from Okpelama, which is why soldiers went to the community in search of them.”

Okpelama community chairman told our correspondent that after Saturday night’s raid, the soldiers came back again on Sunday morning to the community’s waterfront, but did not enter inside.

Another source, who spoke from one of the Ijaw

communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area, at about 5.30 pm said: “The situation is not clear yet, but there are gunboats everywhere.

It is a combined team of soldiers and navy people patrolling the creeks.

“Movement is restricted. The military personnel are going about to show their presence and scare the militants, who strike in the night and not in the daytime. But, at least, their presence has shown that the military was ready to confront them.”

Recall that some armed youths believed to be loyalists of Tompolo on Saturday resumed attacks on oil facilities in Gbarmatu and other areas in Delta State.

Oil and gas pipelines in the creeks of Gbaramatu and Ugborodo areas of Warri South West and those in Egbema, North

local government areas of the state respectively were affected in Saturday’s attacks.

A source said: “The gas pipeline which from Olero creeks to Escravos were destroyed in the latest attack. Several crude lines were sabotaged while Makaraba, Otunana (UtonNana), Abiteye and Dibi flow stations were bomb.

“The pipeline, which conveys gas from Saghara to Chevron was also destroyed and there are several persons trapped in the communities.

“The kind of explosives and bombs they used are not like those of before; the effects were felt in several communities as they went off intermittently,” a local source told our reporter.

The facilities destroyed included those of the Nigerian Gas Company, Chevron Nigeria Limited and NECONDE among others.

Community leaders will be held liable for attacks on oil, gas facilities - JTF He, therefore, advised ÎÎÎThe Joint Taskforce them to desist from further

Former Vice President and chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar (left) and member, House of Representatives, Hon. Abdurrazaq Namdas on arrival of Atiku from a foreign trip, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at the weekend.

79 years after, Ooni pays historic visit to Alaafin Remi Oladoye, Ibadan

ÎÎÎOoni of

Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11, on Sunday, made history as he became the first Ooni to visit the Alaafin of Oyo since 1937.

The Methodist Church, Apaara, Oyo, venue of the 45th coronation anniversary thanksgiving service of Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, became electrified immediately news filtered in that Oba Ogunwusi’s convoy has reached

Owode, followed by many other royal fathers across Yorubaland.

Oba Ogunwusi decked in the trademark Ooni attire, on entering the church, moved straight to where the Alaafin was and shook hands with him.

The two royal fathers then sat on the same chair, both beaming with smiles.

They were the cynosure of all eyes as everybody wanted to take photograph of the duo.

An elated Oba Adeyemi,

speaking on the visit, said the last time an Ooni visited the Alaafin was in 1937, adding that he is very close to many Obas in Yorubaland and beyond.

Revealing how close he was to the late Ooni Adesoji Aderemi, he said he never disrespected him but prayed for his longevity on the throne.

He said: “The misunderstanding started during the reign of the last Ooni.

May your reign be long, Ooni. I am happy with Ooni Ogunwusi’s move to

unite all Yoruba Obas.”

Oba Ogunwusi described the Alaafin as a great monarch, stating: “It is a new dawn for all Yoruba sons and daughters around the globe,” while bursting into a song, ‘Ore l’ao mase...Awa o ba ti ja wa ooo, Ore l’ao ma se’.

Royal fathers present at the historic event include the Timi of Ede, Owa Ajero of Ijero, Ore of Otun Ekiti, Orangun of Ila, Akinrun of Ikirun, Aragbiji of Iragbiji and Elerin of Erin Osun.

(JTF), Operation PULO SHIELD (OPS) has warned that community leaders would henceforth be held responsible for any attack on the country’s oil and gas facilities in their domains.

The JTF Commander, Maj.-Gen. Alani Okunlola, gave the warning on Sunday while inspecting the site of Friday’s pipeline explosion site at Egwa 11, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta.

Okunlola, who led other security personnel to the explosion site, also warned that henceforth, extant laws banning the use of outboard engines with 200 horsepower and above would be enforced in the region. ``This warning is coming as a result of the recent multiple attacks on oil facilities and platforms by suspected militants in the Niger Delta,’’ he said.

The JTF commander, who described the acts as economic sabotage, assured that the command would apprehend the perpetrators.

destruction of the nation’s oil and gas facilities.

He called on government officials and community leaders to furnished OPS and other security agencies with information that would facilitate the arrest of the perpetrators of the attacks.

He said that the acts were criminal in nature and were capable of undermining the security of the country. ``There is no way we will fold our hands and allow the criminals to get away with it. ``It is a massive sabotage and critical to national assets; we must fish out those responsible for it. ``We don’t have our men on ground in the area that is why they were able to carry out the act,’’ he said.

He assured Niger Delta residents of JTF’s determination to eliminate illegality from the region.

The Brigade Commander, Brig.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya and the Commander, 3 Battalion, Igwe Omoke were on the team that visited the explosion site.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 18, 2016

...Luxury & Style

Li LINEA ITALIA FURNITURE

41 Gana Street, Maitama, Abuja, Nigeria Tel 234-9-4136342, 0805 5103 177 www.lineaitalia-ng.com

13

News 14

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 18, 2016

Saraki orders review of NASS security ÏÏÏChairman

of the National Assembly and President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has directed a review of all security arrangements in the National Assembly to keep the institution abreast of the current challenges in the country, especially now that the Boko Haram insurgency has receded.

In a statement credited to the Special Adviser to the President of the Senate on Security, Major General Saleh Maina (rtd), and signed by the Special As-

sistant to the Senate President on Print Media, Chuks Okocha, said the review of the security around the complex was part of the periodic plans to ensure better protection of lives and property, as well as improve on the existing arrangement.

General Maina said in carrying out the directive of the Senate President, the heads of all security agencies present in the Complex, and other officials whose portfolio has to do with security, had met at different times to devise a

common and water-tight plan.

It was decided during the meetings that henceforth it is compulsory for all legislators, staff and visitors to the National Assembly to wear identity tag.

He also said that as part of the review of the security arrangements, there would be no loitering within and around the National Assembly by visitors and staff. Gen. Maina further said all vehicles to the National Assembly must be parked at the appropriate designated parking lots.

Saraki

He also said that there shall be proper screening of personnel coming into the National Assembly as well as the scanning of their hand bags and luggages.

The Special Adviser called on the security officials at the National Assembly to be polite and firm to all in the course of carrying out their duties.

He also said that there would be training and retraining of security personnel and staff of the National Assembly, as well as general maintenance and upgrading of equipment towards ensuring quick responses, communication and mobility, in case of any threats in any location within the National Assembly.

Maina explained that the training of the concerned staff at the National Assembly will further ensure proper collaboration and coordination among all security agencies working within the huge complex, and that henceforth, there will be a periodic meeting of all concerned with the security of the institution.

Also, a general awareness campaign will be held for all those that has businesses within the National Assembly Complex to update them on the new development.

Lagos allays fears on outbreak of Lassa fever ÏÏÏLagos

state government, last weekend, called on residents to remain calm over the outbreak of Lassa fever, just as it assured that it is doing everything possible to curtail the spread of the virus in the state.

Addressing journalists at the Bagadau Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa Secretariat,

on the first case of the disease recorded in the state, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris said in line with international standards, 92 persons who had direct and indirect contact with the index case are currently being followed-up.

Idris confirmed that the index case, a 25-year-old

male undergraduate of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna state, was reported to have fallen ill after arriving in Lagos and was taken to Ahmmadiyyah Hospital, Ojokoro, on January 9 with complaint of fever, sore throats and difficulty in swallowing.

He said the patient was

Ambode

BENUE STATE POLYTECHNIC, UGBOKOLO (OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR)

INVITATION FOR PRE-QUALIFICATION TO TENDER FOR THE YEAR 2015 TETFUND SPECIAL INTERVENTION PROJECTS IN BENUE STATE POLYTECHNIC, UGBOKOLO 1.0 PREAMBLE The Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo is desirous of inviting competent and capable contractors to make submissions for the pre-qualification/tendering in respect of the year 2015 Special Intervention Projects.

2.0 PROJECTS LOT 1: Construction of Computer Based Testing Centre LOT 2: Furnishing of Computer Based Testing Centre 3.0 PRE-QUALIFICATION CRETERIA Contractors are expected to submit documents for the pre-qualification which shall be accompanied with the following documents/requirements: i.

Company registration certificate/incorporation with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) ii.

Company profile (which must include details of ownership, names, qualifications and addresses of company staff) iii.

Tax Clearance Certificate covering at least the last three (3) years. iv.

Company’s audited financial reports for the last three (3) years v.

Verifiable list of projects executed vi.

Letter of financial capability/viability from contractor’s banks vii.

Evidence of payment of VAT for the past three (3) years 4.0 SUBMISSION OF BIDS Only completed documents should be neatly packaged with title of the project and lot number marked on the left hand side of the envelope for the review of the Polytechnic and delivered to: The Registrar, Benue State Polytechnic, P.M.B. 01, Ugbokolo, Benue State.

To reach him not later than four (4) weeks after the date of this publication.

PLEASE NOTE THAT: Only pre-qualified contractors will be invited to tender opening two (2) weeks after prequalification. The general public should be guided accordingly.

SIGNED: Registrar.

subsequently placed on admission for six days and was thereafter referred by the said private hospital to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) on January 14, 2016 owing to the fact that the fever was persistent and his condition was not improving.

According to Idris, the patient was confirmed as a case of Lassa fever on January 15, at LUTH, and

is currently being managed to the extent that his condition is now stable.

Idris added that 15 inpatients who were admitted alongside the index case, as well as 25 health workers who attended to them have been placed on compulsory 21 days monitoring, and that the phone numbers and addresses of the persons in that category have also been collected for proper tracking.

Witness tells court how bus crushed friend to death Titilope Joseph

ÏÏÏA witness in a mur-

der case, Demian Eke, has told a Lagos State Coroners Court, sitting in Ogba, presided over by Magistrate M.K.O Fadeyi what led to the death of his late friend, Ikechukwu Abasirim.

In his examination in chief, before Magistrate Fadeyi, Eke informed the court that, He knows one

Mr. Ikechukwu Abasirim.

He was a friend and a colleague.

“I was driving from Mile2, towards Oshodi before the second Rambo Bus stop, opposite a police station and I observed that my vehicle had developed a fault and I packed, and my friend came down, I discovered that a team of Police/ LASTMA was chasing a vehicle that crushed him at Rambo.

“It happened around 9.10am, I rushed him to the hospital and he was confirmed dead” Eke said.

In his address, counsel to the deceased, Kennedy Osunwa, explained that on October 27, 2014, Abasirim was with his friend, Demian Eke along Cele, Mile 2 Express Road, and the vehicle developed a fault, prompting the driver to pack at Rambo Bus Stop, leading to Oshodi.

Boko Haram: UN experts arrive Nigeria Babajide Okeowo

ÏÏÏIn a bid to rehabilitate

and reintegrate victims of Boko Haram devastation, three United Nations Human Rights experts will arrive Nigeria from 18 to 22 January, 2016, to examine measures that will assist women and children who

escaped or were liberated from the insurgents.

According to the UN experts, “all measures taken or intended to be taken to ensure the right to care, recovery and reintegration of these women and children should comply with international human rights norms and standards,” said

the UN Special Rapporteurs on sale of children, Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, on slavery, Urmila Boola, and on right to health, Dainus Pras.

“In that regard, we look forward to engaging with all parties and put our expertise at their disposal,” they noted.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 18, 2016

15 Opinion

Abia: Controversies over Appeal Court judgement I thought I heard a voice cry, “Sleep no more! Macbeth is murdering sleep.” Innocent sleep. Sleep that soothes away all our worries. Sleep that puts each day to rest.

Sleep that relieves the weary labourer and heals hurt minds. Sleep, the main course in life’s feast, and the most nourishing”. - Macbeth.

Okechukwu Keshi Ukegbu

T

he timing of the judgment did not even support the illegality allegedly perpetrated by the five- man member panel headed by Justice Oyebisi Omoleye, by delivering a judgment that has been tagged” the most controversial in recent history”.

The judgment that nullified the mandate Abians gave Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu to serve them as the state’s number one citizen.

The judgment came on eve of the new year. It came at a period Abians in the Diaspora had cashed in on the opportunity of the yuletide to have a firsthand assessment of the transformation going on in their state.

Indeed, the five- man member panel that nullified Ikpeazu’s mandate at the Appeal Court in

Owerri on December 31, 2015 murdered sleep. Moreover, like Cawdor and Macbeth, sleep had eluded them.

Like the proverbial character that stirred the hornet’s nest, it has been banters, knocks and bashing.

Few days after the controversial judgment, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, had expressed concerns over conflicting judgments from the Court of Appeal.

He said: “As the guardians of the law, we must not only be just but also convey certainty in our justness”.

Justice Mohammed told the justices that they were not allowed to shift the goalposts when the game was on.

While advising them to adhere to certainty and stop creating confusion, he said: “As your lordships will agree, where an aggrieved person perceives, whether rightly or wrongly, that they will not receive justice, such a situation can indeed bode ill for the community in which he lives.

We must not ignore the negative perception occasioned by conflicting judgments delivered at various divisions of the Court of Appeal. Such judicial contradictions only result in untold hardships to litigants in their quest for justice. They further cast your lordships in an unfavourable light and leave the judiciary at

the mercy of innuendoes, crass publications and editorials”.

A highly celebrated columnist, Amanze Obi, in his column ”Broken Tongues” of Thursday, January 7, 2016 entitled” Judiciary on trial again” raised some pertinent questions.

He said; “This latest judgement from the Court of Appeal is in the mould of some of the radical judgements, which our courts have had to deliver in election matters. It will go down in our political history as one that have tried and tested the impartiality and independence of the judiciary in Nigeria. For instance, it should be noted that the judgement is a radical departure from the earlier one given by the Abia State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which upheld Okezie’s election.

Given this earlier verdict, the expectation was that the worst that could happen would be to call for a rerun in the event of a higher court feeling that the earlier judgement could not be upheld.

“But what came from the Court of Appeal was a bombshell. It was not in conformity with the wildest imagination of bookmakers. Our recent experiences with our courts show that such judgements, whenever given, are largely political and ultimately spiteful. Therefore, the question: Why is the Court of Ap-

peal incensed over Okezie? Why has the Court of Appeal acted as if it was on a mission?

“The people cannot also fathom why Abia is being factored into the political earthquake that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is allegedly planning to unleash on the polity.

“But how does Abia come into this mix? Abia, is one of the South East states that supported Jonathan only in words but not in action. Southeast states, most embarrassingly, could not return substantial number of votes because of the shallow thinking of the political elite. They did not play the politics of numbers.

“Even if Abia has to be tinkered with for whatever reason, the people do not understand why that should come about through massive disenfranchisement of a section of the Abia electorate. In fact, the most contentious aspect of the entire drama is the cancellation of the results of the three local government areas in Ngwa land where Okezie hails from.

The affected local government areas are those of Osisioma, Obingwa and Isiala Ngwa North.

A legal luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Mike Ozekhome has lent his voice to the issue. Ozekhome, described the judgment as ‘fundamentally wrong’ and full of errors in law.

Nnamdi Kanu: Aka Ikenga speaks to Buhari “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” -Martin Luther King

Laur Nnamdi Onyekwere

T

hirty-Two years ago, a young, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, in a military coup overthrew a legitimate Nigerian civilian government.

He superimposed himself as Head of State on January 2, 1984. The Nigerian Constitution classifies as treason any act with “intention to remove, during his term of office, otherwise than by constitutional means the President as Head of State of the Federation and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.” Until date, Buhari has hardly faced any questions about his overthrow of a legitimate government.

Rather, than an apology for overthrowing a legitimate government, Buhari was emboldened to seek the office of the Nigerian Presidency four times. No one ever challenged these unlawful attempts. However, Nigerian history recorded the imprisonment of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, for treasonable felony. Obasanjo, a former president, was incarcerated for alleged participation in an aborted coup. Both leaders are of Yoruba descent and have been questioned by the

law for implication in the attempted overthrow of government. However, Buhari, of Fulani descent, has never been mentioned in the same breath, let alone being charged or jailed for overthrowing a legitimate government. Yet, he was left to run for and finally became President only now to turn around with his secret police to hold an innocent man, Nnamdi Kanu, in custody for no reason other than free speech!

Evidently, Buhari appears disrespectful to the Nigerian Constitution. Neither of these situations are redeeming to any Presidency of Nigeria. The Nigerian judiciary have looked at Nnamdi Kanu’s issue and acquitted him, but apparently, Buhari still figures he can hold any person hostage, if he does not like their face or their ethnicity. That is why Nnamdi Kanu is still being held in jail. This is how it is in Banana republics; usually their tin pot militarised dictators’ start with an authoritarian style. Remarkably, as Buhari ran for presidency, in a speech in London at Chatham House, he said, “I cannot change the past. Nevertheless, I can change the present and the future.

So before you, is a former military ruler and a converted democrat who is ready to operate under democratic

norms”.

With that speech, Buhari showed recognition of democratic ideals but obviously, talk is cheap. One of the primary “rigours of democracy” is obedience to the laws, the constitution of a nation, which democratic presidents swore to uphold, even when that law does not favour them. Holding Nnamdi Kanu against his will because he said things about Biafra, which Buhari does not like, is akin to what happens in Banana republics.

Most importantly what Nnamdi Kanu said, not did, pales in the face of Buhari’s past activities against Nigeria. Overthrowing Shagari’s government was treasonable and that is a fact. Buhari found it convenient to challenge elections within the Nigerian judiciary even after overthrowing a legitimate one. It is also a fact that the courts have tried Mr. Kanu and found him not guilty, while Buhari is yet to be fingered for treason even with this faux conversion to democracy. Disrespect for the Constitution and disobeying the laws is not a requirement neither a qualification for conversion to democracy. Respect for the laws of Nigeria, as dispensed from the judiciary, is respect for the Constitution. It is beginning to appear that some Nigerians are above the law.

If some Nigerians are indeed above the law, that also is corruption.

Corruption is not only financial; Muhammadu Buhari also outlined corruption on his radar screen. One cannot run with the hare and at hunt with the hounds or possibly the “baboons”, to borrow from the Buhari lexicography. No, wonder the expectation that some Nigerians saw coming, a miracle man of god! However, as we go to press, Nnamdi Kanu is still languishing in jail for no crime. That is an ungodly act.

The future that Nnamdi talks about is Biafra, and is the same future that Buhari is deathly scared of. The injustices of Nigeria as is now perpetrated to Nnamdi Kanu and a whole lot of other Nigerians are the fuel driving Biafra; just holding Nnamdi in jail is not going to stop the cry.

Aka Ikenga at USA is demanding the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu immediately. Continuous restriction of his freedom with trumped up charges does not hold promise for the future. You can imprison a person but it is impossible to imprison ideas.

General Buhari, there is only one choice and you and your secret police know what it is. Do the right thing.

Chief Laur Nnamdi Onyekwere, is President of Aka Ikenga at Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.

News 16

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 18, 2016

Delta LG officials laud Amnesty outreach Mathew Dadiya Abuja

ÏÏÏOfficials

from Burutu Local Government Council in Delta State have expressed satisfaction with the quality of healthcare delivery at the on-going Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP)/ Rural Africa Health Initiative (RAHI) Free-Medical-

Outreach in some conflictimpacted communities in the Niger Delta region.

Leading a delegation of council officials, at the weekend, to Ayakoromo Primary Health Centre, venue of the exercise for an on-the-spot assessment of the quality of healthcare delivery by the RAHI team of volunteer surgeons, the Supervisory Councillor for Health in

the Council, Hon (Barrister) Bebekere Fuludu, said they were happy that their LGA was among the first to benefit from the free medical programme in the Niger Delta.

While commending President Muhammadu Buhari for the appointment of Brig-Gen. Paul T. Boroh as Special Adviser on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Presiden-

tial Amnesty Programme, she called for concerted efforts in driving primary healthcare delivery at the grassroots.

On his part, the Councillor representing Ward 6 in Seimbri Clan, Hon. Fred Afoegba, said primary healthcare delivery had always been given priority attention by members of the Burutu Legislative Assembly, just as he de-

scribed the Amnesty-free medical outreach initiative as a step in the right direction.

He was particularly grateful that Ayakoromo community was enlisted to benefit from the first phase of the Amnesty/ RAHI-free-medical-outreach.

Meanwhile, the Presidential Amnesty Programme’s free medical

DISCOVERY

ALL THE ADVENTURE YOU CAN HANDLE.

outreach mission told the Daily Times that it recorded its first child delivery case on January 6, 2016 at Ayakoromo health centre.

The Head of RAHI medical team, Mr. Chiedu Rosemond Ugbe, said the baby boy arrived at 6:41a.m, weighing 3.2kg adding that both the mother and the child were in good condition, while the child had been since been circumcised by the doctors.

It would be recalled that Ayakoromo community was impacted by the activities of the militants which led to the unfortunate bombing of the town by military on December 1, 2010.

Fire razes students’ hostel in Anambra

With its Terrain Response ® technology the Land Rover Discovery can handle any adventure pursuit that you choose.

BOOK A TEST DRIVE TODAY

landrover-africa.com

ÏÏÏAbout

Your Land Rover Discovery now comes with a $4000 deposit contribution and a 5 year / 150 000km warranty plan as standard.* COSCHARIS MOTORS

Km 32 Lekki Epe Expressway, Awoyaya, Lagos, Nigeria Tel: Lekki - Awoyaya: 08033026156 | Victoria Island: 08126195212 | Abuja: 08126195245 | Port Harcourt: 08088526464 (Behind Opebia House) Service and Parts: Lagos: 08088526433 | Abuja: 08052205546 | Port Harcourt: 08126195203

*Terms and conditions apply.

80 students were displaced from their boarding house accommodation at the Don Bosco Secondary School and Youth Centre, Obolo Obosi, near Onitsha following a fire incident.

Rector of the school, Charlse Uzoeto, who conducted journalists around the charred remains of the hostel on Sunday, said the fire broke out while the students and teachers were in school.

Mr. Uzoeto said the students had been sent back to their parents following an agreement between the management of the school and parents as there was no place for them to stay.

The Rector said the property of the students could have been saved, but the fire service was unable to reach the school in good time due to the bad access road.

“It was a serious fire incident. Nobody can say exactly what happened or how it happened, but everyone was in school.

“We can only speculate about the real cause, but we thank God that no life was lost.

“About 80 students are housed in the two wings of the hostel; we cannot quantify the extent of damage as virtually everything the students had in the hostel was lost,” he said.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 18, 2016

Features

17

Æs

A workman in onshore rig

Hot on the front burner of the broadcast was the economic diversification strategy that has become another political song with no political will to propel it to fruition.

The lawyer, preacher and national commentator focused on what he defined as the bio-geographical features, including the vegetation belts and rivers that roughly divide the landscape into six geographical zones and asked if it was a coincidence or a divine distribution of sustainable resources for the six geo-political zones which structures have been dislodged by questionable political gladiators of past administrations.

Economic Diversification “We must examine the diversification thrust, not just in terms of the over-reliance of FG on petroleum for export revenue, but also in the failure of state and local governments to internally generate revenue.

“How can we effectively diversify the economy as regards mining and allied industries, for instance, without taking another look at Item 39 of the Exclusive Legislative List of the 1999 Constitution?

This section confers powers in this regard exclusively on the federal government.”

Catalogues of questions FG, Nigerian must address: 1.

Is it a coincidence that every

Path to successful diversification — Tunde Bakare The state of the nation broadcast by Pastor Tunde Bakare on Sunday January 10 is still generating ripples in the polity.

GBUBEMI GOD’S COVENANT SNR examines some of the issues. state of the federation is endowed with mineral resources?

2.

Is it sheer coincidence that the nation’s bio-geographical features, including the vegetation belts and rivers, roughly divide the landscape into six geographical zones?

3.

Shouldn’t these zones provide a basis for economic mapping and develop-

ment?

4.

Would it not be a better strategy for states to be empowered to manage these resources?

5.

Can the states, as presently constituted, maximise their endowments even if more power were to be devolved to them?

6.

Why were the regions in the days

of our Founding Fathers so economically viable to the extent of sustaining the federal government?

7.

Why can’t we begin a geo-economic path to geopolitical restructuring?

8.

Who is afraid of zonal commissions and geopolitical zones?

Continued on page 18

Features 18 Continued from page 17 9.

Above all, who is afraid of zonal federating units?

“The time has come for us to ‘feed our faith’ in this regard and ‘starve our fears’ to death”, Bakare stressed.

The stumbling block to states development The stumbling block to the viability of states, the cleric pointed out, is the Item 39 of the 1999 Constitution which was deliberately structured to hamper the ability of states to generate income and create jobs; The need for diversification also brings to the fore the question of viability of 36 states in relation to the need for economies of scale.

“This,” Bakare said, “also explains the inability of states to optimise agriculture as it is on the Concurrent Legislative List, and this introduces to the debate, the need for a zonal or regional approach to national development.”

Infrastructure “According to the Minister for Power, Works and Housing, of about 200,000 kilometres of total road networks in the country, the federal government owns 16% or 36,000km which bears an estimated 70% of the total traffic.

The state governments own 18% and the local governments control the remaining 66%.

“Also, according to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), out of Nigeria’s total road network of 200,000km, only about 30,000km is paved.

“The implication here is that all of 170 km of roads are unpaved and mostly impassable.

Therefore, it is perhaps safe to conclude that federal roads constitute the majority of paved roads.

“A transportation infrastructure map often reflects the socioeconomic profile. These statistics suggest at least two gruesome facts: a. that most states and local governments lack the needed capacity to maintain an efficient network of roads; b. secondly, given the low traffic on those roads, that the federating units have been unable to facilitate the evolution of vibrant sub-national and local economies that can, in turn, feed into the national and global economy.

The need for such local economies is in keeping with the argument that small and medium enterprises are the heart of any national economy. The inability of the federating units to comfortably fund infrastructure projects is an aberration in a federal system.”

The power problem

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 18, 2016

Sound monetary policy would eliminate need for subsidies

Buhari

While 56.75% of the population in the North-East is uneducated, 54.85% of the North-West and 30.3% of the NorthCentral population lack access. In the southern zones, the uneducated population statistics show 14.35% for the South-West, 14.7% for the SouthEast, and 9.55% for the South-South.

These disparities are brought about by socio-cultural, security, economic, and, sometimes, geographical factors.

“Despite the massive investment in the power sector, the short-term target of 6000 megawatts has remained a mirage. As at mid-December 2015, electricity generation stood at 3,730.24 megawatts. Have we exhausted options with respect to electricity generation, transmission and distribution? Is deregulation without devolution a sustainable pathway to uninterrupted

Bakare

Kachikwu

Queuing for fuel is a perennial feature

electricity supply? Must the national grid constitute a gridlock to progress?

“Why can’t the state governments, working as zonal blocs, come together with the federal government, to design an intermodal transport system, as well as a hybrid power infrastructure model, along the lines of regional comparative advantage, and begin to push for the appropriate legal regimes to facilitate its implementation?

“Why can’t we allow for elec-

tricity generation, transmission and distribution at the zonal, state and community levels, such that domestic consumption needs are met at the sub-national levels, while the national grid becomes an electricity exporting vehicle serving the rest of West and even Central Africa, generating income for the federation that could be distributed on the derivation principle based on percentage generation?”

Human Capital Development Bakare identified education of the people as central to human capital development.

“However, there is a regional or zonal dimension to the state of education in the country in terms of access.

“While 56.75% of the population in the North-East is uneducated, 54.85% of the North-West and 30.3% of the North-Central population lack access. In the

Continued on page 19

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 18, 2016

Continued from page 18 southern zones, the uneducated population statistics are: 14.35% for the South-West, 14.7% for the South-East, and 9.55% for the South-South.

“These disparities are brought about by socio-cultural, security, economic, and, sometimes, geographical factors.

In light of these statistics and causal factors, is it not common sense policy-making to have zonal regulation of education, with each zone charged with the responsibility of developing qualitative and quantitative human capital in order to maximise the peculiar potential of the respective zone, in line with a national vision that links education to industrialisation?”

National Security Acknowledging recent spirited efforts by FG to combat terrorism and insecurity nationwide, Bakare suggested a coalition of states to form a national security strategic network: “Considering regional, geographical and cultural peculiarities, why not allow zonal coalitions of states to design and implement regional security strategies in conjunction with the federal government? Why have we bought into the deceptive notion that the security of our nation will be hampered if we introduce policing at federal, regional, state and community levels?

“Consider the exploits of the Civilian JTF (Joint Task Force) in Borno State and imagine them to have been part of a regional or even a state police force in their own familiar terrain. Who can tell what a devastating impact such a formidable local force could have had on insurgents and terrorists, especially in terms of intelligence gathering, had they been a much more organised and well-coordinated security force?

“The earlier we remove the legal bottlenecks in the way of achieving the maximisation of our local resources in this regard, the better our chances of defeating insurgents and terrorists in record time.”

Petroleum Sector In view of the resurgence of the subsidy conundrum, Bakare sets the record straight on the January 2012 protests.

“It has become needful to respond to those who might be wondering if our January 2012 protests were organised in error. Let me reiterate that the Save Nigeria Group (SNG) did not mobilise the people of this country to the Gani Fawehinmi Park at Ojota merely to protest the removal of the fuel subsidy:

19 Features

Small and medium enterprises are the heart of any national economy entail the adoption of targeted palliatives that would ensure that the benefits of intervention get to the so-called average Nigerian for whom it is designed while taking steps to restore full capacity for domestic production. This must be communicated effectively and transparently to stakeholders including the labour unions.”

Neglected road infrastructure

it was organised to challenge the corruption that defined the fuel subsidy regime.

“Even at that time, we recognised the unsustainability of the subsidy regime but maintained that corrupt politicians, in collusion with certain private interests, had plundered the national treasury through fictitious fuel subsidy claims and were merely hiking the fuel price to mobilise funds to cover up the negative effects of their actions on the economy.

“We insisted then that it was not a deregulation as was being claimed by the government but a hike in fuel price. We demanded the prosecution of those indicted in the damning report of the Farouk Lawan Committee, a phenomenon we referred to as ‘Kleptocracy Unlimited’ where, for instance, N999 million was reportedly paid 129 times, totalling N127,827 billion naira, to some companies, by the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

“Four years later, those indicted persons have not been prosecuted. Do we still need to wonder why corruption is so endemic and very pervasive in our nation today?”

On this fiery cleric pronounced the judgment of heaven on the fuel subsidy unaddressed scan-

We demanded in 2012 the prosecution of those indicted in the damning report of the Farouk Lawan Committee where, for instance, N999 million was reportedly paid 129 times - totalling N127,827 billion to some companies- by the office of the AccountantGeneral of the Federation. Four years later, those indicted persons have not been prosecuted. Do we still need to wonder why corruption is so endemic and very pervasive in our nation today? dal from the Holy Book: “Here is the verdict of Heaven,” he pronounced: “Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely

know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him. But it will not be well with the wicked; nor will he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he does not fear before God.” (Ecclesiastes 8:11-13 NKJV).

Subsidy replacement, not subsidy removal Quoting a timeless marble in Proverbs 12:27 that says a lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting, Bakare asked, “Is it not shameful that we have been subsidising consumption and practicing the economics of laziness?

“Is it not laziness of the highest order that one of the largest producers of crude oil in the world exports crude and imports refined products at cut-throat costs? It is incomprehensible laziness that an oil producing country would decline to zero refining capacity!

“There is no gainsaying the fact that we have become the laughing stock of other oil producing countries in the world.

“It is in our collective interest to bring this aberration to an end, taking advantage of the dip in oil prices to effect a phased replacement of the subsidy regime with domestic production. Whereas the buzzword in the subsidy debate is ‘subsidy removal’, we are advocating ‘subsidy replacement’.

“Subsidy replacement would

Transparency of communication “A crucial step in transparent communication would be full investigation into the past five years of the subsidy regime and the prosecution of culprits including those indicted in past probes. Transparent communication would also entail explaining to Nigerians why the pump price of fuel has not had a direct proportional relationship with changing global crude oil prices such that the pump price is adjusted with every significant drop in oil prices.

“For example, it will be very interesting to know what happened with respect to the landing cost of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) between June 2014 when the price of crude was 115 US dollars per barrel, and January 2015 when it fell below 50 dollars per barrel.

“Without a doubt, the ultimate solution to the subsidy conundrum lies in optimally functional refineries. While we appreciate the current efforts towards restructuring the downstream sector, we also need to explore innovative approaches to domestic refining; in this regard, the need for modular refineries cannot be overemphasised.

“In relation to the upstream sector, we maintain that now that crude is fast losing its value, is the best time to diversify, and that diversification can only succeed when accompanied with devolution of powers in a restructured federal system. Indeed, the summary of our assessment of the entire framework of governance and public policy is that, without restructuring, this administration may achieve little or no significant and sustainable success.”

Conclusion: The concluding part of this short series, mirrors the critical aspects of financial management and the dismal dysfunction of the country’s apex bank among others. It is a must read.

News 20

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 18, 2016

Confusion in Bayelsa Assembly as Speaker refuses to vacate seat Akam James, Yenagoa

ÎÎÎThere is palpable tension

in Bayelsa State as controversy, at the weekend, rocked the State House of Assembly following protest by some members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) demanding the resignation of the Speak-

Lagos sensitises varsity students on sexual assault ÎÎÎIn line with the man-

date of Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, to embark on various sensitisation and enlightenment campaigns, the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT), at the weekend, engaged over 5,000 students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) on Sexual Assault Prevention.

According to the Coordinator of the DSVRT, Mrs. Titilola VivourAdeniyi, the Sexual Assault Prevention Drive for Higher Institutions, organised in partnership with the Pastor Bimbo Odukoya Foundation, was aimed at addressing issues of sexual harassment, date rape, safety on campus, the role of a bystander and prevention.

The first Drive, she said, started on Wednesday, January 13, which coincided with the orientation session for new students.

“UNILAG Students were given tips of how to avoid being victims of sexual assault. They were also informed on how to stay safe in social settings, some of which include making a plan B for emergency exits from a place, protecting their drinks, avoiding clubs or parties that charge men, but let women enter and drink for free”, Mrs. Vivour-Adeniyi said.

er, Hon. Kombowei Benson over the December ruling of the Court of Appeal, which annulled his electoral victory.

While his supporters and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state claimed the Court of Appeal’s ruling did not ask him to vacate the seat, pending a re-run election, the APC, through counsel to the applicant, has submitted the certified copies of the ruling to the State Attorney General and the Clerk of the House of Assembly showing proof of order of the court.

The Court of Appeal, sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on December 9, declared as null and void the election of Benson and ordered a fresh election in Constituency 4 of the Southern Ijaw Local Government area.

In the copy of the Court of Appeal’s ruling, signed

by Ejembi Eko, Justice Court of Appeal, and made available to newsmen, in Yenagoa and the case was filed by Hon. Ebifaghe P. Orunimighe and All Progressives Congress (APC), as applicants, and Benson Konbowei Friday, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) as Respondents In the rulling of the Court of Appeal,which was based on the appeal filed by the APC candidate in the State House of Assembly election, Comrade Ebifieghe Orunimigha against the ruling of the Election petition Tribunal, ordered that the election of Hon. Benson Friday Konbo-

wei as the purported winner of the Bayelsa state House of Assembly seat for Southern Ijaw Constituency Four (iv) elections held on April 11, 2015 was null and void.

The Court of Appeal, presided over by Hon. Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, Hon. Justice Ejembi Eko and Hon. Justice Stephen Jonah Adam, did say that, “It is hereby ordered that fresh elections shall be conducted in all the wards of the constituency within 90 days from today except in Olodiama Ward Four (4) and the polling unit 20-30 in Foropa Ward Four (4) .

“These results from Olodiama Ward four(4) and polling unit 20-30 in Foropa ward Four (4) shall upon the fresh elections in other wards as

ordered, thereafter, be duly collated and final declaration/return made.”

The APC, in a statement credited to the counsel to Benson has flouted the court’s order and refused to vacate his seat as a member of the State Assembly.

According to the statement, though the Clerk of the House, the ruling of the Court of Appeal had been served. “As I send this message now, the Speaker has refused to vacate seat. He went ahead on Friday to receive 2016 Appropriation Bill as submitted by Governor Seriake Dickson. We are seeking legal means to compel the court to issue a contempt order against him and get him arrested and evicted from the House.

Ajimobi

Dementia Friends debuts in Ibadan

ÎÎÎIbadan,

the Oyo State capital, will on Thursday, January 28, 2016, play host to a large number of Dementia Friends enthusiasts from Nigeria and abroad, who would come to witness the launch of Dementia Friends, a world-wide organisation that protects interest and promotes welfare of people suffering from dementia.

The event will hold at the Events Hall, Moniya, Ibadan.

A release by the Co-ordinator, Kikelomo Laniyonu Edwards, said Nigeria would be the third country to launch Dementia Friends, an initiative of the Alzheimer Society. The organisation has been launched in Canada and Mauritius.

She said that Dementia Friends Nigeria would be modelled after the United Kingdom’s, adding that the launch would give Nigeria an opportunity to run the programmes of the organisation with the attendant benefits of enlightenment and education of the people.

Kano NAPTIP scores self high Yakubu Salisu, Kano

ÎÎÎThe National Agency for L-R: Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola; his wife, Sherifat; his deputy, Mrs. Titi Laoye Tomori (2nd right) and Chairman, Bi-Courtney Group, Dr. Wale Babalakin (right) during the coronation of the Oniwo of Iwo, Oba Abdul Rasheed Akanbi in Osun State...at the weekend.

NSCDC boss commends navy over pipeline vandalism Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

ÎÎÎThe

Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu, has commended the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas and his personnel for the synergy and partnership with the Corps in tackling pipeline vandalism, oil theft, oil bunkering and illegal refinerys operations.

Abdullahi stated that,

while the job of protecting critical infrastructure and national assets was the core mandate of the agency, the collaboration of other stakeholders in combating the menace would also assist them in bringing the illicit acts to a halt.

The NSCDC helmsman stated this at the Corps’ National Headquarters, Abuja, and urged all stakeholders to join hands with the them to ensure that government’s effort in repositioning the

nation was not in vain, especially in the drive of reinvigorating and re-engineering the petroleum sector, power, telecommunication and transport sectors.

He called on all other agencies to emulate the gesture of the Nigerian Navy, which synergises in the fight against the illicit businesses by apprehending vessels, arresting suspects and handed over to the Corps for prosecution.

Gana, who was elated by

the acts of the Navy, reiterated that some of the prosecutions carried out and feats recorded by the Corps, so far, were due to the collaboration between the two agencies, especially the handing over of vessels and suspects to the Corps in Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta states, among others.

He also appreciated the arrest made in Lagos recently by the Nigerian Navy and the suspects handed over to the Corps for further investigation and prosecution.

the Prohibition of Trafficking In Person and other Related Matters (NAPTIP) has stated that it was winning the war against human trafficking and other offences that violated human rights. The agency made this known during an interview with the Daily Times in Kano.

According to a senior staff at the agency’s Public Awareness Department, Mr. Aminu Muhammad Shira, it had recorded a tremendous achievement in the year 2015 as the rate of the crime both trafficking and violence against children in the state had been drastically reduced to the barest minimum, as a result of dedication and commitment on the part of the staffs towards combating the crime.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 18, 2016

21 News

Diversion of arms funds, a monumental scandal – Aregbesola Sodiq Adekunle Osogbo

ÏÏÏThe

Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has described the diversion of money meant for procuring arms for Nigeria soldiers to fight insurgency as a monumental scandal.

He stated this at the 2016 Armed Forces Remem-

brance Day and Laying of Wreath in honour of fallen soldiers, held at the State House of Assembly, in Osogbo.

He recommended that a fresh inquiry be set up to ensure that justice was done to soldiers sentenced to death.

Said he: “It is even a monumental scandal of unimaginable proportion that funds meant for pro-

curing arms for soldiers were shared among members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), without the least compunction.

“Considering the circumstances of this unusual event, it is pertinent that a fresh inquiry be set up, so that justice will be given to all those involved and our gallant soldiers will not be punished unjustly.”

Aregbesola

L-R; General Secretary, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama‘at Nigeria, Alhaji Abba Iromini; Amir, Alh. Dr. Mashhud Adenrele Fashola; National Deputy Amir, Alh. Engr.

Ahmad Al-Hassan and Grand Father of the Jama’at in Nigeria, Alh. Zafrullah Oladipo Elias, during a press conference on the forth-coming centenary celebration of the movement, held in Lagos...at the weekend. Photo: OLAWALE ROTIMI

NCAA threatens sanction against airlines over indiscriminate airfare

Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

ÏÏÏThe

Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has warned all airline operators in Nigeria to desist from arbitrary increase in miscellaneous charges on ticket payment content without its approval.

It has, therefore, directed, with immediate effect, that all airlines should file any proposed add-on charges, surcharges or other miscellaneous charges with it.

Yakubu Salisu Kano

ÏÏÏThe

10 megawatts power plant project constructed by the Kano State government at the popular Tiga Dam is said to be almost completed, and that, soon, the generation of electricity

In a press statement, issued in Lagos, on Sunday, the acting General Manager, Public Affairs of the NCAA, Mr. Sam Adurogboye, said the procedure of filing same, all justifiable reasons for increment must be adduced in accordance with Parts 18.14.3.1 and 18.14.3.2. (i-iii) of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs), which relates to the approval of charges on all flights within Nigeria or originating from Nigeria to international routes.

“In requesting for approval of any add-on charges or surcharge, an air carrier is required to provide justifiable basis for the proposed increment with a consideration of all relevant factors – including a new linear rationalisation for the specific aggregated costs sought to be recovered and consumer interests.”

1n addition, 18.14.3.2. says, “when approving any application for an add-on charge or surcharge related to fuel, the Authority shall:

Take into account changes in prices of aviation fuel, the relevant hedging policies of the air carrier, the justifications provided by the air carrier and other relevant factors; Ensure that the revenue so generated would not exceed the additional fuel costs borne by the airline operators during the corresponding period; and Approve on a short term basis, not exceeding a period of two (2) months in each instance.”

On the roles of soldiers in the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections in 2014, with a report on it submitted by a committee, Aregbesola said that the deployment of soldiers was avoidable.

“The military high command also set up an inquiry into the roles soldiers played in the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections of 2014. The com-

FCTA moves against Lassa fever Idu Jude Abuja

ÏÏÏWorried

over the reemergence of the Lassa fever virus, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has warned residents not to expose their delicacies or spread edible foods on the surface, as a measure of primary protection of their lives against the deadly rat virus The administration, through the Health and Hu-

mittee has submitted its report and made recommendations.

“As a victim of the reckless deployment of soldiers in those elections, I will say it was an avoidable deployment of soldiers for a civilian duty, and for which there was no threat beyond the capability of the police and other security agencies,” he added.

man Services Secretariat, released, at the weekend, some useful tips on how to effectively prevent the spread of the disease.

The Daily Times gathered that the administration noted that this proactive step had become necessary, in order to curtail the unfortunate incident, which led to the death of some victims thereby saving the territory from spreading.

It stated that the FCTA had urged the residents not to dry foods by the roadside, as well as keeping their houses and surroundings clean by blocking all holes around them, clearing all bushes and stop disposing refuse in covered dustbins.

Ex-Ekiti Dep. Speaker urges Buhari to remain focused

Gbenga Sodeinde Ado-Ekiti

ÏÏÏFormer Deputy-Speak-

er, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Adetunji Orisalade, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari, not to mind the criticisms of opposition politicians, but should rather remain focused in his task of general cleansing, and repositioning of the country’s fortunes.

Orisalade, a lawyer, who spoke with the Daily Times at the weekend, said that Buhari “has enough of the rot

of maladministration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan era to clear and should devote his time doing just that, rather than being swayed by misguided condemnation”.

According to Orisalade, opposition politicians, who have been blaming him for instituting probes and introducing many other redeeming programmes across various sectors of the country, were indirectly seeking to institute failures in his administration, “for Nigerians to experience no needful change”.

Ganduje assures Kano power plant’ll function soon from itt would commence by the second quarter of this year.

An assurance to this effect was given by the Country Head of Projects, Skipper Nigeria Ltd., Mr. Gauhar Malik,

who said the project would be completed by May 2016, and that it had reached over 65 percent completion stage.

Besides, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje said a contract for evacuation of

the expected energy that would be generated, would be awarded in a couple of weeks, while expressing optimism that in the next three years, the state would have enough electricity for

prospective consumers, and that the only way to provide electricity to the state was through hydro and solar energy. Ganduje further explained that already the state government had started dis-

cussion with some firms on how to tap electricity from solar energy, hoping that this would solve the lingering closure of factories and unemployment in the state due to lack of stable power supply.

News 22 Islam against extremism, says cleric Gbenga Sodeinde Ado Ekiti

ÎÎÎA foremost Islamic cler-

ic, Sheik Daud Amoo, has decried Islamic extremism and violence, saying they are against injunction of Allah.

The highly revered cleric stated this in a chat with the Daily Times in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti state capital, at the turbanning of Sheik Abubakar Adekunle and launching of a fund to undertake the construction of his mosque, as well as the commencement of trainings for children last weekend.

Daud, based in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, clarified that “no sincere Muslim would engage in any form of violence that could claim lives in whatever form”.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 18, 2016

Plateau JTF begins compensation of destroyed farmlands Chijioke Kingsley Jos

ÎÎÎThe Joint Military Task

Force code name Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), mandated to restore peace on the Plateau has begun the implementation of compensation for every farmland destroyed by cattle breeders and cattle rustlers.

Recall that the Commander of the OPSH, Major General Tagbo Ude, in one of his dialogue between the herdsmen and the natives in

a Town Hall meeting, stated that a mandatory payment of compensation will be implemented by the OPSH to serve as a deterrent to anyone that destroys farmland with his cattle or anyone that rustles cattle belonging to the herdsmen.

However, only recently, the herdsmen in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, paid compensation of N380, 000 to farmers in Kasa community of the LGA for the destruction of farmlands by their cattle on the January 4.

Operation Safe Heaven sector seven Commander in charge of Barkin Ladi, Col. Valentine Okoro said the OPSH was able to bring the two parties to the negotiating table and the destruction was valued at about N380,000.

In the words of Col. Okoro: “The herdsmen agreed to pay.

So we are looking forward to an end to these destructions of farmlands and an end to cattle killings.”

OPSH Commander, Major General Tagbo Ude, in his own words said that, “We

are adopting this mandatory compensation for any farmland that is deliberately destroyed or cow that is killed.

Operation Safe Heaven is a symbol of justice and we do not take side with anybody.”

The secretary, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in the area, Muhammad Adam Muhammad thanked the farmers for not taking laws into their hands and appealed to herdsmen to ensure that their cattle do not feed on farmlands.

Said he: “It is not the com-

Lagos govt launches campaign against beggars

ÎÎÎLagos

Okorocha sacks 3000 workers

ÎÎÎImo state governor, Ro-

chas Okorocha, has dared the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) by sacking over 3,000 workers from parastatals, agencies and departments in the state.

NLC took a firm stand last week Wednesday during a peaceful protest in the state to resist any plot by state government to retrench workers or reduce salaries of workers in the state.

But the state government, in a statement signed by the Secretary to Government, Sir. Jude Ejiogu, last weekend, said it has “suspended” all the workers in 20 affected parastatals, agencies and departments without salaries.

Some of the affected parastatals included the Hospital Management Board, Imo Water Corporation, Imo Capital Market, Imo Sport Council, Imo State Environmental Transformation Commission, ENTRACO, Imo Tourism Centre, Imo Blue Lake of Treasure, Imo State Promotion Centre, Imo Library Board, Imo Livestock, Imo Arts and Culture, Imo State Investment Promotion Centre, Imo Poverty Alleviation Agency, Imo Palm Plantation, and Imo Agriculture Loan Board, Agriculture Development Centre.

Sir. Ejiogu said that the sack notice would take effect from today (Monday).

pensation that matters, we want this to stop. We want the person who has farmed to go and cultivate his farmland and we hope that such acts of farmland destructions will not be repeated”.

The Youth leader of Kasa community, Iliya Luka Bot, who spoke on behalf of the farmers thanked OPSH for the intervention but said though the value of the destruction was more than the compensated amount, but they have agreed to collect N380, 000 in the interest of peace.

General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division, Nigerian Army, Jos, Brigadier-Gen. Mohammed Sani Aliyu (right) at the Laying of Wreaths on the occasion of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day in Jos, Plateau State… at the weekend.

Ogun contractors lament unpaid N3.5bn debt Abiodun Taiwo Abeokuta

ÎÎÎContractors handling the

renovation and construction of some buildings as well as provision of furniture in some schools across the 20 Local Government Areas of Ogun state have threatened to drag the state government before the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) over N3.5 billion debt.

The contractors numbering about 150 explained that the N3.5 billion contracts were done in 2014 under the State Universal Basic Education Board projects for 2010/2011.

In a press statement signed

by Adeniyi Rauf on behalf of

the contractors, said series of letters had been written to the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and the Secretary to the state government, Taiwo Adeoluwa over the N3.5billion outstanding, but all to no avail.

They also claimed that several visits had been paid to the Chairman SUBEB, Chief Mufutau Ajibola and the governor who was represented by his SSG, adding that all the visits did not yield any fruit.

They, however, threatened that apart from their plan to petition the ICPC, they would embark on peaceful protest on February 3, when President Muhammadu Buhari would be in the state for the celebration of 40 years exis-

tence of the state.

According to them, “no fewer than 10 of us have died as a result of the debt, while 50 persons have been hospitalised.

“We wrote series of letters on October 20, 2015 and November 4, 2015 and copied Commissioner for Finance and Accountant-General, but, no response.

“We paid visits to Governor Amosun three times and in all the three times, it was SSG that met us and promised that the government will pay.

“We are not happy with Ogun state government and we are planning to stage a peaceful protest on February 3, when the celebration of 40 years anniversary will be on.

“We are suffering, our children have been sent out of their schools because we could not pay their fees.

“If the government fails to pay our money, we will petition the ICPC and stage a peaceful protest on the celebration day”, the statement read.

In his reaction, the State Chairman SUBEB confirmed the debt, saying, the governor had pledged to pay the debt.

Ajibola said, “It is true that we are owing the contractors, but, the governor has promised to pay them soon.

“You know we did not pay our counterpart funding, we only got our bailout. The governor has assured them that he will pay very soon”.

state government has launched a campaign to sensitise members of the public on its zero tolerance to begging and destitute on streets within the metropolis.

A statement made available by the Ministry of Youth and Social Development says “the menace of beggars and destitutes on our streets has reached an alarming dimension despite the regular rescue operations carried out by the rescue team of the Rehabilitation department”.

Beggars of different categories and destitutes have become a usual sight on the streets over the years with resultant negative effects in traffic management and security along major roads, adding that some of the beggars have been found to be accomplices to certain crimes for whom they sometimes hide weapons as robbers believe they would not readily be suspected, while others under pretext have dispossessed members of the public of their valuables on the road.

The statement highlighted section 166 subsection 1(b) of the criminal code which prohibits street begging with adequate penalty for defaulters.

Ambode

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 18, 2016

23 News

Buhari in UAE for World Energy Summit Lasser fever: Ogun boosts Ï Ï Ï

P r e s i d e n t Muhammadu Buhari, on Sunday, embarked on a three-day official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

During the visit, President Buhari is expected to join the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki Moon, Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan of Abu Dhabi and other participants as a special guest of honour at this year’s edition of the World Future Energy Summit.

The Summit which is now in its ninth year of existence has developed into one of the world’s most influential events dedicated to advancing future energy, energy efficiency and clean technologies.

In a move signalling Nigeria’s reengagement with the Middle-East region, President Buhari will also lead a team of his ministers to bilateral talks with the government of the UAE. After the talks, a number

of agreements between both countries on economic, trade and bilateral relations are expected to be signed.

From the visit, Nigeria also expects to get more support from the UAE for its war against terrorism and the recovery of Nigeria’s stolen funds.

President Buhari is also

scheduled to meet with leading UAE businessmen who are interested in Nigeria with a view to encouraging greater investment inflows to critical sectors such as power supply, oil, gas and agriculture.

The President, who was accompanied by the

ministers of Power, Works and Housing, Petroleum, Environment, Justice, Trade and Investment, Finance and Foreign Affairs, as well as the National Security Adviser, will also meet with Nigerian professionals in the UAE before returning to Abuja on Tuesday, January 19.

Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode (middle), presenting a gift to a beneficiary, Mrs. Esther Ayeni (2nd left), during the International Women’s Society (IWS) New Year Feast for Widows, at the IWS Skill Acquisition Centre, Lekki, on Saturday. (R-L) With them are President, IWS, Hajiya Zainab Saleh; Executive members, Mrs. Izarene Aret-Adams and Mrs. Funke Aurthur-Worrey.

THE PRECIOUS RED DIAMONDS WELFARE ORGANISATION

ABAJI-SUKU DEGEMA PEOPLES RESTORATION ASSEMBLY

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990 Trustees: 1. Amaka Enemo 5. Ada Cresencian Ada 2. Mr. Alban Annonyuo 6. Omini Effiong 3. Ese Awhatorhe 7. Oden Blessing 4. Ngozi Nwosu Aims And Objectives TO CREATE AWARENESS ABOUT RISKY BEHAVIOR AND HIV/AIDS/ STIS PREVENTION CONTROL AND IMPACT MITIGATION. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990 MEMBERS 1 INNOCENT TYGER (CHAIRMAN) 2 FESTUS MAXWELL UZONDU 3 PAKRIMA MPAPAMIEARI TYGER 4 TOMBO TAMUNO-ASAGBE ATKIN (SECRETARY) AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO ADVOCATE FOR PEACE, TO FOSTER UNITY AMONG MEMBERS. 2. TO INCULCATE MORAL VALUES TO THE SOCIETY. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

LIFE OF SUCCESS DYNAMIC ASSEMBLY

HEALING AND MIRACLE IN THE WORD MINISTRY

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990 TRUSTEES: 1. OKOROEGO BESTMAN JOSHUA (CHAIRMAN) 2. OFORHA JACKLIN OKONKWO (SEC.): 3. CHINAGOROM EZE (MEMBER) AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST ALL OVER THE WORLD. 2. TO TAKE CARE OF THE WELFARE OF ITS MEMBERS. 3. TO ESTABLISH LOCAL BRANCHES FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL WORLDWIDE.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990 TRUSTEES 1)VICTOR OSONDUAGWUKE AGWUBILO (G.O) 2)MRS ANTHONIA UZOO NDIANEFO (SEC) 3)AGWUBITO JOY (MRS) 4)AMIECHI CHARLES EZENWA. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST ALL OVER THE WORLD. 2. TO TAKE CARE OF THE WELFARE OF ITS MEMBERS. 3. TO ESTABLISH LOCAL BRANCHES FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL WORLDWIDE.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION

SIGNED: SECRETARY PROSPECT ANIEDI MONDAY JOY I formerly known and addressed as Ekpo Aniedi Monday now wish to be known and addressed as Mr Prospect Aniedi Monday Joy. All former documents remain valid general public take note.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

surveillance in 20 LGs Abiodun Taiwo Abeokuta

ÏÏÏTo

prevent an outbreak of the dreaded Lassa fever in Ogun State, the state government has directed all the 20 Local Government Areas to mount an effective surveillance across all the borders.

The state government also debunked rumour making the rounds that cases of Late disease have been discovered in Ota, Ado- Odo/Ota Local Government Area of the state.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye, made this known over the weekend at a press conference held at the Governor’s Office Press Center Oke-Mosan in Abeokuta .

Ipaye said no cases of Lassa Fever has been reported as at the time of the conference, adding that the latest cases reported was in Ojokoro in Lagos

which was close to Ota area. Hence, the reason why the state was increasing surveillance in all the 20 Local Government Areas to guard against possible cases.

According to the Commissioner, the affected person travelled from Kano to Lagos and has been isolated from members of the public at the Teaching Hospital Idi Araba in Lagos.

He said the state would immediately embark on vigorous campaign at sensitizing the good people of Ogun State against the disease using bottom-top approach communication system.

The Commissioner called on members of the public not to panic, but quickly report symptoms like body pains, chest pain, cough, abdominal pain, bleeding from the nose, mouth, urine and the gum to the nearest General Hospital.

GOOD LEADERSHIP, POVERTY ERADICATION AND YOUTH EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990 TRUSTEES: 1. AISHA MUHAMMAD BABAYO - PRESIDENT .

2. CHILA ANDREW AONDOFA - SECRETARY. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES TO SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE GOOD GOVERNANCE AND DEVELOPMENT. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: OBY ONYEKWULUJE SOLICITOR

EZE THEOPHILUS I, formerly known and addressed as EZE NNABUIKE, now wish to be known and addressed as EZE THEOPHILUS. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ANYA MARYANN QUEENDALINE I formerly known and addressed as MISS EZE NWAKAEGO MARYANN now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ANYA MARYANN QUEENDALINE. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

CHIDIMMA ESTHER AGBURUM

EUPHEMIA OLUCHI OBI

NWAGANA MARY CHIOMA

MICHAEL ALFA KEKERE

I formerly known and addressed as Chidimma Esther Okafor wish to be known and addressed as Chidimma Esther Agburum. All former documents remain valid general public take note

I formerly known and addressed as Euphemia Oluchi Ibegbulem wish to be known and addressed as Euphemia Oluchi Obi. All former documents remain valid general public take note

I formerly known and addressed as MISS OKEHI MARY CHIOMA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. NWAGANA MARY CHIOMA. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. UNN/NYSC and general public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Mamman Michael Kekere now wish to be known and addressed Mamman Michael Alfa Kekere. All former document remain valid general public should please take note.

ENEIGA NKEMDIRIM LINDA I, formerly known and addressed as ENEH NKEMDIRIMU LINDA, now wish to be known and addressed as ENEIGA NKEMDIRIM LINDA. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

OCHEI MARY

I formerly known, called and addressed as Ataro Theresa Egbuju. Now wish to be known, called and addressed as Ochei Mary. All documents bearing my former name remain valid, General public should please take note.

FO

A RS

LE

24

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 18, 2016

ESTHER FOLORUNSO AYANTAYO FOUNDATION

THE AUTHORITY INTERNATIONAL EVANGELICAL PRAYER MINISTRY

CHRIST THE KING COVENANT PRAYER MINISTRY

The general public is hereby notified that the above named FOUNDATION has applied to the corporate Affairs commission Abuja for registration under the part C of the companies and allied matters act,cap 20, LFN 2004 as amended.

The Trustees Are: 1. Prof. Ayantayo Jacob Kehinde 2. Ayantayo Temitayo Oluwabamise 3. Ayantayo Temitope Oluwafemi 4. Ayantayo Gloria Aim and Objective: 1. To support widows build their self esteem, confidence and live dignified life.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general corporate affairs commission plot 420 tigris crescent of aguiyi ironsi street maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: Trustees

The general public is hereby notified that the above named MINISTRY has applied to the corporate Affairs commission Abuja for registration under the part C of the companies and allied matters act,cap 20, LFN 2004 as amended.

The Trustees Are: 1. Prophetess (Mrs) Oluwaseyi Olutoyin Ojo 2. Pastor Ojo Olutunji Akinlabi 3. Mr. Odeyemi Damola 4. Mrs. Komolafe Olubola 5. Brother Ojo Iyanuoluwa Akinola Aims and Objectives: 1. To preach the gospel of Christ 2. To draw people very close to God.

This is to notify the General public that the above name MINISTRY has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990 Trustees 1 Pastor Adesayo Oludele - President \ Chairman 2 Pastor Mrs Oluyemisi Sayo-Oluddele - Member 3 Pastor Bimpe Animashaun -Member 4 Pastor Samuel Oyelakin Awobode- Member 5 Pastor William Omotoso Sunday Akerele - Secretary

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general corporate affairs commission plot 420 tigris crescent of aguiyi Ironsi street maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: Trustees

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General corporate Affairs commission P M B 198 plot 420 Tigris crescent off Aguyi Ironsi street Maitama and Abuja within 28days of this publication.

THE BHOJSONS FOUNDATION

HEM OF HIS GARMENT MIRACLE MINISTRY

LOSS OF ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY DOCUMENT

CHANGE OF TRUSTEES The general public is hereby notified that the above named foundation has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission for amendment of it constitution of the company and allied matters under the Part “C” Art of 1990.

The Old Trustees Are: 1 Mr. Bhagwandas Bhojraj Chanrai 2 Mr. Deepak Mohandas Dalamai 3 Mrs. Lata Bhagwandas Chanrai 4 Mr Vishant Deepak Dalamal.

The New Trustees Are: 1 Mr. Deepak Mohandas Dalamal 2 Mrs. Lata Bhagwandas Chanrai 3 Mr. Vishant Deepak Dalamal 4 Mrs. Poonam Dalamal.

Any objection to this publication should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street,Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this Publicaction.

SIGNED: WILLIAM BIYI FAGORUSI - SECRETARY

THE GLOBAL SUCCESS SHAREHOLDERS ASSOCIATION The General Public is hereby notified that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

The Trustees Are:1. Chief Adeosun Adebayo Aderemi 2. Mr. Adegboyega Adeyanju 3. Mrs. Folashade Ogunmodede 4. Mr. Emmanuel Olatoye Shofoluke 5. Ms. Yetunde Adekoya The Aims And Objectives Are:1.To protect the interests of members and their investment 2. To educate and organise forums for members Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

CHRIST IN THE WORLD DELIVERANCE ASSEMBLY The general public is hereby notified that the above named foundation has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission for amendment of it constitution of the company and allied matters under the Part “C” Art of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Pastor Fred Enabiofo 2. Akhere Enabiofo 3. Pastor Joseph Abumere AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: Secretary

VOLUNTARY WINDING UP OF ALIBRO INTERNATIONAL SERVICES LTD – RC: 700826 The general public is hereby notified that the above named Company is seeking for voluntary winding up under the Companies And Allied Matters Act, Part C., 1990 by a resolution showed below.

THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 2004 COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES SPECIAL RESOLUTION OF ALIBRO INTERNATIONAL SERVICES LTD RC: 700826 At the General Meeting of the above named Company held at its Registered Office on the 18th day of December, 2015; the following Resolutions were proposed, considered and duly passed: 1. “That the shareholders are satisfied that the company can no longer continue it business and consider it advisable to Wind Up the business and it is hereby resolved.

2. That the Company would be wound up voluntarily in accordance with the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

3. That David Ankeli Adakole, Esq., will be and is hereby nominated/appointed as liquidator for the purpose of the winding up”.

Any objection to this effect should be forwarded to the Registrar-General. Corporate Affairs Commission, 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguyi Ironsi Street, P.M.B. 198, Matiama, Abuja within 28th days from the date of publication.

EJEH, EMMANUEL R. (AVM. RTD.) OKECHUKWU BOB (MR.) (Director) (Director)

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named MINISTRY has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:1. APENUWA TOMIWA JOSHUA – (PRESIDENT) 2. MRS ISIJOLA AINA ELIZABETH AKINGBADE – (EVANGELIST) 3. MR ABUBAKAR DAVID – (EVANGELIST) THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:1. To win souls to the Kingdom of Christ.

2. To train, teach and establish people in the ways of God. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication SIGNED: PRESIDENT

Aim and Objective 1 To proclaim the gospel of Jesus christ as the saviour. Healer . Deliverer and giver of all things 2 To engage in intercessory prayers for the salvation of the unsaved and deliverance for the afflicted . Oppressed and captives for and many diverse needs 3 To establish a school for the training of lntercessors and deliverance Ministers Pastors. Evangelists and other workers in the ministries

Signed: PASTOR ADESAYO OLUDELE CHAIRMAN

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

This is to inform the General Public and in particular, the Lands Registry and Registrar of Title, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos that the CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY with registered number 29 at page 29 in volume 1982E (No 29/29/1982E) which covers 466.394 sq meters Area belonging to ODUNEYE ADEBAMBO of NO. 146, VICTORIA STREET, OJOTA, IKEJA, LAGOS is missing. It got lost in Transit.

All efforts made to trace the document has proved abortive.

This Notice is made to enable a possible replacement and for record purposes.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication RELEVANT AUTHORITIES SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE

SALAMI ODUTOLA MEMORIAL ISLAMIC FOUNDATION

DEJI ODUTOLA FOUNDATION

Notice is hereby given to the general public that the above-named Foundation which is located in Lagos State, has applied to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja, for registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

The Trustees Are – 1. Alhadji Rasheed Adedeji Odutola 2. Alhadji Salami Odutola Jnr 3. Hadja Joke Fausat Odutola 4. Alhadji Idowu Abdul Rasheed Aims And Objectives 1. To propagate Islamic religion.

2. To run orphanage homes.

3. To empower the less privileged persons in the society.

4. To provide home for old people.

5. To cater for the sick.

Notice is hereby given to the general public that the above-named Foundation which is located in Lagos State, has applied to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja, for registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

The Trustees Are – 1. Prophet Adedeji Odutola 2. Alhadji Lateef Odutola 3. Dr Olubunmi Deji Odutola

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Maitama, Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: J N ENAJEDU Esq J N ENAJEDU & CO LEGAL PRACTITIONERS TEL 08023132360

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Maitama, Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: J N ENAJEDU Esq J N ENAJEDU & CO LEGAL PRACTITIONERS TEL 08023132360

ASSOCIATION OF LOKOGOMA RESIDENTS OF PENGASSAN ESTATE PHASE 2

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Association is seeking for registration under the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Part C., 2004.

TRUSTEES: 1.Raphael Zingak Walbe, 2.Abdullahi Zakaria, 3. Justin Omoku, 4. Abdullahi Shuaibu Babagana, 5. Dr. Ikenna Umechukwu, 6.Mr Arinze Ewekalu, 7. Barr. John Paul, 8. Princess Greatness.

Aims and objectives: 1. To protect the interest of members.

2. To provide security for residents.

Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General. Corporate Affairs Commission, 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguyi Ironsi Street, P.M.B. 198, Matiama, Abuja within 28th days from the date of publication.

Signed: Secretary ASSOCIATION OF IMAMS AND ALFAS ORILE COKER AGUDA LAGOS The general public is hereby notified that the above Named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, of 1990.

The Trustees Are: 1) Isa Muha Nuh Alufa - President 5) Abdulreheem Alaaminu 2) Koyamuna Najimu 6) Folohunseya Sulaimon Wah 3) Yaaqub Ali Folorunsho- General Secretary 7) Sodeeq Tajudeen Arisekola 4) Saheed Jamiyu 8) Khallefa Yekeem Husain Aims And Objectives: 1) TO LEARN, PRACTICE AND TEACH ISLAM IN NIGERIA AS CONTAINED IN THE HOLY QURAN AND IN THE AUTHENTIC HADITH. 2) TO PROMOTE THE INTEREST AND WELLBEING OF MUSLIMS PARTICULARLY THE ALFAS AND IMAMS AROUND AND FAR DISTANCE IN NIGERIA. 3) TO CONVEY THE MESSAGE OF ISLAM TO OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD , INSH-ALLAH. 4) TO CREATE UNITY AMONG THE IMAMS AND ALFAS ALONG WITH UNITY IN ALL EXISTING MOSQUES, ARABIC SCHOOLS AND MUSLIM SCHOOLS AROUND AND FAR NIGERIA. 5) TO WORK IN COLLABORATION WITH GOVERNMENT AND DONOR AGENCIES, CORPORATE BODIES AND FOUNDATIONS OF LIKE MINDS. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general corporate affairs commission plot 420 tigris crescent of aguiyi ironsi street maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication SIGNED BY: GENERAL SECRETARY 08035038420.

Aims And Objectives 1. To empower the less privileged youths in the society.

2. To assist the needy in the society.

3. To provide home for old people.

4. To run orphanage homes.

5. To cater for the sick.

VOLUNTARY WINDING UP OF ALIBRO TRANSPORT SERVICES LTD – RC: 819792 The general public is hereby notified that the above named Company is seeking for voluntary winding up under the Companies And Allied Matters Act, Part C., 1990 by a resolution showed below.

THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 2004 COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES SPECIAL RESOLUTION OF ALIBRO TRANSPORT SERVICES LTD RC: 819792 At the General Meeting of the above named Company held at its Registered Office on the 18th day of December, 2015; the following Resolutions were proposed, considered and duly passed: 1. “That the shareholders are satisfied that the company can no longer continue it business and consider it advisable to Wind Up the business and it is hereby resolved.

2. That the Company would be wound up voluntarily in accordance with the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

3. That David Ankeli Adakole, Esq., will be and is hereby nominated/appointed as liquidator for the purpose of the winding up”.

Any objection to this effect should be forwarded to the Registrar-General.

Corporate Affairs Commission, 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguyi Ironsi Street, P.M.B. 198, Matiama, Abuja within 28th days from the date of publication.

EJEH, EMMANUEL R. (AVM. RTD.) (Director)

OKECHUKWU BOB (MR.) (Director)

AFRICAN INITIATIVE FOR LAW AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP The general public is hereby notified that the above Named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, of 1990.

The Trustees Are: 1. Makun Babatope 4. Obele Oluyemisi Comfort (Mrs.) 2. Obele Olaniran 5. Atoe Olufemi Moses.

3. Ademuyiwa Anthony Aims & objective: 1. Advocacy for the development of just laws and policies that will ensure the justiciability of socio-economic rights 2. Democratizing knowledge to break the unjust vicious circle of ignorance and poverty by canvassing for qualitative, free and or affordable education at all level 3. Promoting entrepreneurshipand legal knowledge, peace and governance in public and private institutions.

4. Provision of free legal services and business support services to vulnerable members of the society.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general corporate affairs commission plot 420 tigris crescent of aguiyi ironsi street maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: Secretary

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 18, 2016

25 Opinion

From Lugard to Lagarde!

Yinka Odumakin ÏÏÏ In 1894, Major Frederick Lugard came to Nigeria first as an employee of East Indian Company, later of Royal East African Company and then by the Royal Niger Company.

It was from the Royal Niger Company that he transferred his services to the British government and turned to “Lord” over us.

In 1914, the Scottish man amalgamated the Northern and Southern Protectorates and his girlfriend, Flora Shaw, gave us the name, Nigeria (Niger Area), which we have not had the gut to change till date unlike Gold Coast which has renamed itself Ghana.

Lugard, a barely educated soldier who said he was glad to “find a northern suitor for the southern lady of means” was so brutal that native kings like Oba Kosoko of Lagos who opposed colonial rule were dethroned and banished into exile.

The colonial raider’s view about us are far from being complementary and I quote from his book: “In character and temperament, the typical African of this race-type is a happy, thriftless, excitable person. LACKING IN SELF-CONTROL, DISCIPLINE, AND FORESIGHT. Naturally courageous,

and naturally courteous and polite, full of personal vanity, with little sense of veracity, fond of music and loving weapons as an oriental loves jewelry. HIS THOUGHTS ARE CONCENTRATED ON THE EVENTS AND FEELINGS OF THE MOMENT, and he suffers little from the apprehension for the future, or grief for the past. His mind is far nearer to the animal world than that of the European or Asiatic, and exhibits something of the animals’ placidity and want of desire to rise beyond the State he has reached.

Through the ages THE AFRICAN APPEARS TO HAVE EVOLVED NO ORGANIZED RELIGIOUS CREED, and though some tribes appear to believe in a deity, the religious sense seldom rises above pantheistic animalism and seems more often to take the form of a vague dread of the supernatural”.

“HE LACKS THE POWER OF ORGANISATION, and is conspicuously deficient in the management and control alike of men or business. HE LOVES THE DISPLAY OF POWER, but fails to realise its responsibility... he will work hard with a less incentive than most races. He has the courage of the fighting animal, an instinct rather than a moral virtue... In brief, the virtues and defects of this race-type are those of attractive children, whose confidence when it is won is given ungrudgingly as to an older and wiser superior and without envy...

Perhaps the two traits which have impressed me as those most characteristic of the African native are HIS LACK OF APPREHENSION AND HIS LACK OF ABILITY TO VISUALIZE THE FUTURE.” -Lord Frederick John Dealty Lugard, The Dual Mandate, pg.70 (1926)

Lagarde

Years after his demise, some in his mould are still portraying us in the same light like the CEO of International Monetary Fund (IMF) who came visiting Nigeria for four days last week. Her coming was announced by the Finance Minister like the second coming of our Lord.

Christine Lagarde came and met with our President, Vicepresident, National Assembly, CBN Governor and all Bank MDs in our country. The rate at which she was going, I thought for a moment that we were going to assemble our governors, Local Government Chairmen and traditional rulers to meet with IMF boss like “attractive children”.

Lagarde, who is facing corruption charges in her country –France, praised our anticorruption war but went on to talk down us rather condescendingly saying: ”I cannot comment on the budget here and now, because we have a procedure in the IMF under which a team of economists would come next week to do what we call the

W E A T H E R ABUJA

ASABA

LAGOS

Low 23°C High 38°C

Low 25°C High 37°C

Low 25°C High 35°C

KADUNA

IBADAN

ILORIN

Low 18°C High 37°C

Low 23°C High 38°C

Low 23°C High 41°C

Article 4, which is the review of the budget. ”The group will hold discussion between the IMF on the one hand and the country’s authorities on the other hand. They would look at whether the debt is sustainable, whether the borrowing costs are sensible, and what strategy must be put in place in order to arrest changes going forward”.

At the last count, it was 55 years after independence and here is Lagarde coming to tell us in our faces that we don’t have enough sense to put on paper what we want to spend against what we expect to earn. How many serious countries of the world would Lagarde go to and spew that kind of utterance?

This is the same country where Murtala Muhammed went to the OAU conference in Adis Ababa in 1976 to rouse African leaders with perhaps his greatest speech in his short stay in power: “Africa has come of age. It is no longer under the orbit of any extra continental power. It

should no longer take orders from any country, however powerful. The fortunes of Africa are in our hands to make or to mar. For too long have we been kicked around: for too long have we been treated like adolescents who cannot discern their interests and act accordingly. For too long has it been presumed that the African needs outside ‘experts’ to tell him who are his friends and who are his enemies.

The time has come when we should make it clear that we can decide for ourselves; that we know our own interests and how to protect those interests; that we are capable of resolving African problems without presumptuous lessons in ideological dangers which, more often than not, have no relevance for us, nor for the problem at hand.”

Murtala Muhammed was assassinated 31 days after he made this historic speech and here we are on the eve of the 40th anniversary of his assassination being treated like “adolescents” by Lagarde who came in the image of Lugard to our clime.

She even had a patronizing sense as she visited the Internally Displaced Persons(IDP) camp in Abuja in the course of her stay and made a donation of $5,000.We were not told if it was a personal donation or on behalf of the Shylock body she represents.

When one wants to tell a loudmouth like Donald Trump to take back his words back on Africans, our own low-esteem conduct before those we should not dignify so much says more about us than what the Republican presidential hopeful said: “Look at African countries like Kenya for instance, those people are stealing from their own government and go to invest the money in foreign countries. From the

government to opposition, they only qualify to be used as a case study whenever bad examples are required. How do you trust even those who have ran away to hide here at the United States hiding behind education? I hear they abuse me in their blogs but I don’t care because even the internet they are using is ours and we can decide to switch it off from this side. These are people who import everything including matchsticks. In my opinion, most of these African countries ought to be recolonised again for another 100 years because they know nothing about leadership and self-governance”.

From Lugard to Lagarde, we continue to live the last two lines of Trump. For the occupants of Lugard country who may think Lagarde was here for us, these excerpts from Ernst Wollf’s book “Pillaging the World” would suffice: “For decades, the IMF has been active mainly in Africa, Asia and South America.

There is hardly a country on these continents where its policies have not been carried out in close cooperation with the respective national governments. When the global financial crisis broke out in 2007, the IMF turned its attention to northern Europe. Since the onset of the Euro crisis in 2009, its primary focus has shifted to southern Europe.

Officially, the IMF’s main task consists in stabilizing the global financial system and helping out troubled countries in times of crisis. In reality, its operations are more reminiscent of warring armies.

Wherever it intervenes, it undermines the sovereignty of states by forcing them to implement measures that are rejected by the majority of the population, thus leaving behind a broad trail of economic and social devastation.’’

R E P O R T KANO Low 15°C High 35°C

BENIN CITY Low 9°C High 20°C

P/HARCOURT Low 23°C High 36°C

CALABAR Low 25°C High 35°C

ENUGU Low 25°C High 37°C

WARRI Low 25°C High 36°C

26

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 18, 2016

Our Heritage Æ s

Remembering Uche Okeke, the mentoring artist, teacher On Monday January 4th, one of Nigeria’s leading contemporary artist Prof. Uche Okeke, who along with Bruce Onobrakpeya, Demas Nwoko and Yusuf Grillo, led the struggle that metamorphosed into Zaria Art Society died at the age of 82. ONYEMA OFFOEDU-OKEKE , a Lagos-based studio artist who knows him at the University of Nigeria Enugu Campus where he taught and mentored younger artists for decades pays tribute to the man he first encountered as a student and later studied his works “Burden of bright haloes foisted upon our heroes grows lighter upon graying hairs. As Uche Okeke is bade farewell, several encomiums celebrate his milestones as a foremost apostle of the decolonization of African art, as the chief theorist of the Natural Synthesis upon which the Nigerian art modernism was clearly formed, as the father of modern Uli art, as the precursor of drawing as a fullfledged art technique, as the pioneer supervisor of MFA, MA and PHD academic degree programs in Nigeria, as a pioneer researcher of Nigerian modern art, as the architect of the ‘Fine and Applied Art’ Department of Nigerian Universities, and as the main instigator of art intellectualism in Nigerian Education.

Beyond Nigeria, Uche Okeke’s transformative legacies had gone transnational. The global proportion of Uche Okeke’s stature as an epochal artist, a world-class theorist, a demagogue and an academic leader draws much assent from performances of his former colleagues, his ex-students, the African avant-gardes and art historians who exert permeating enquiries into African visual modernism. Recently, the entrenched favoritism in art biennale selections gradually gave way to inclusive participation to reflect the relevance of emergent economies. it is however remarkable that the arrival of Africans to this excellent global portals of high art reflects the empowerment of the African narratives. Emphasis of cultural hybridism and eclecticism in El Anatsui, Yinka Shonibare, and Wangechi Mutu echoes African artists’ liberal exercise of their multiple legacies, profoundly denoting a natural synthesis of the variable agencies shaping the artists’ experiences such as the Ghanaian kente cloth and the European bottle caps in the case of El Anatsui’s metal clothes.

It is important to understand the epochal expediency of Uche Okeke’s Natural synthesis, and its synchronization with other global art revolutions. During the de-

Uche Okeke’s transformative legacies had gone transnational. The global proportion of Okeke’s stature as an epochal artist, a world-class theorist, a demagogue and an academic leader draws much assent from performances of his former colleagues

The late Uche Okeke

cades after the Second World war -1950-1970, new world political and economic orders emerged which arguably may be attributable the consequences of people from different parts of the colonies who witnessed the war and later interrogated the hypocrisies of the ideologies of liberty preached by the Western Democratic Institutions. Subsequently, intellectual interpretation of the post-war realities by civilians formed the philosophical benchmarks to interrogate, narrate and define the social progresses both locally and globally. Civil Rights and other cultural revolutions exploded in America , and China, and Europe.

In Africa, the well rehearsed ‘Wind of Change’ swept along intellectual agitations for the politi-

cal independence in the 1950-60s as European flags were replaced by newly tailored African flags.

The fervor of nationalism pervaded the songs, social movements and decolonization of European cultural curriculums in colleges.

The Natural Synthesis arrived at the time when Africans needed a unique blue print as an alternative to Western models in order to design their modernisms.

Scriptural Epiphany At the global art festivals reputed as the highest level of art purveyorship, the gradual increase in the inclusion of artists of African origin points to the attitudinal change in order to realize a greater global cultural participation.

Often regarded as the ‘Other’ in discussions about centralized po-

sitions of West versus the others who operate at the margins, Africa and Asia have now found themselves inside a new centrality where Europe and Americas had formerly held janitorial custodianship. The changes in selection policies that allowed Africans in did not occur by impulsive act, but was due to the engaging arguments presented by international curators, among whom are Prof Okwui Enwezor the director of the Haus der Kunst, Munich, Germany., Prof Obiora Udechukwu of St Lawrence University New York, Prof Olu Oguibe of The University of Connecticut, Prof Sylvester Okwunodu Ogbechie of University of California, and Prof Chika Okeke-Agulu of Princeton University. Their intellectual bearings and curatorial engagements challenged the western alignments of contexts of modern Art history. All the abovementioned names are alumni of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, while the last four were students of Prof Uche Okeke. Notably, Uche Okeke’s proclivity for poetry-writing, investigation of art history, and theoretical erudition highly inspired his students.

Uche Okeke’s finest moment in history in my view is the model of the curatorship of African ar-

tistic consciousness. Today, the cultural advocacy required in curatorship of art derived from the decisiveness of not just preaching the tenets of African dialectics but acting on them. Uche Okeke at the University of Nigeria set this stage with the mandatory explication of art through exhibitions, art history investigations, prose and poesies. If an artist can fill a hall with beautiful pieces but can’t affect control of the narratives, there is the danger of losing authorship of the art to curatorship. The task of literary enquiry imbues the artist with a most powerful agency of the narrator, instead of being the story itself.

If writing was an instrument of colonial subjugation, it means that literature was a battlefield where the powers of the day wielded awesome control. European explorers who reported from far-flung outposts were often influenced by upper-class education, cultural attitude, and the demand for sensational news, and thus manufactured tall tales that satisfied their audience’s African fantasy. Consequently, such African reports led to centuries of fictional literature embodying demeaning cultural stereotypes.

Yes, writing was a tool. it was a propaganda-machine in decades of colonial interregnum, and the logical counteractive response by Africans was found in defiance known as ‘writing back’. Brilliant African minds like Uche Okeke knew this fact and adopted writing to further neutralize pessimistic pervasive African Anthropological science. Art being the context of the most critical African capitulation to Western belief system, provided Uche Okeke the opportunity for his theoretical declaration of Natural synthesis which prescribes authorship of modern art styles by inbreeding western techniques with best of African ideologies. Interestingly, the ongoing discussions and implementation of Natural synthesis has provided African ideological response with the best strategy that is more progressive than Negritude.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 18, 2016

Climbing the Olumo rock OGUN, the Gateway State came into existence in February 1976 following the creation of new states by the late General Murtala Ramat Mohammed.

In terms of culture and tourism the Ogun State Government, through its tourism potential, has continuously guaranteed selfsufficiency Major tourist attractions in the State are Olumo rock, the Birikisu sungbo shrine, Suna cultural centre, the Ososa home of Hubert Ogunde and Yemoji tourist centre and many more.

Predominantly inhabited by the Egbas, Egbados, Aworis, Eguns, Ijebus and the Ijebu-Rernos, Ogun State, which has its Capital

at Abeokuta, also attracts many other Yorubas from neighbouring states. Specifically, Yoruba is spoken among the predominant sub-ethnic groups but English is widely spoken as official language. The State, is noted for its hospitality to expatriates from within and outside Africa, provides entrance for thousands of people coming into Nigeria by land from Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana, Togo and Republic of Benin through Idiroko, the famous Nigeria-Benin Republic border town situated in Ogun State.

Enriched with an uninhibited cultural milieu which gives a boost to social relationship among the inhabitants, Ogun is

blessed with a peaceful religious atmosphere which engenders the spirit of solidarity among the citizenry. Adherents of Christianity and Islam live together, but many of them still participate in traditional rites depending on family religious background. Ogun enjoys the tropical weather with the rainy season starting about March and ending November, it also enjoys, throughout the year, a sunny weather in day time and fairly cool weather in the evenings. Notable agricultural products include Rice, Maize, Beans, Cassava, Yams, Plantain, Bananas, Tomatoes, Oranges, Cocoa, Kolanuts, Rubber, Palm Oil, palm Kernels and Sugar Cane.

Olumo Rock

How young writers can make it big -Habila

Helon Habila, former Arts Editor of the Vanguard Newspapers shot to prominence in 2001 when his short story, Love Poems, won the Cain Prize for American fiction. Many years since then, he has published many other novels including, Waiting for an Angel, which won the Commonwealth Writers prize for Best First Book, African region, Measuring Time, Oil and Water, Dreams, Miracle and The Granta Book of the African Short Story. In this interview with AGOZINO AGOZINO, the US-based writer speaks about how young writers can make it, his journalism days and how young writers can make it

You were once the Art Editor of Vanguard Newspapers, where you worked closely with people like Obi Nwakanma.

Would you say that being a journalist helped your career?

Yes of-course. I owe a lot of my writing today to my background as a journalist. Journalism helps you to develop discipline. You read every day. It helps you to be punctual and always read one thing or another. Your sentences structures are more direct when you are a journalist. You are always inquisitive, looking for story ideas or asking question. Journalism also helps you to have an investigative mind because of your training. And like you know, the opportunity of being with fellow writers likes Obi Nwakanma and others helps to make you a good writer. I believe that journalism is the first place to start for any aspiring writer.

As one of the popular Nigerian writer, are you satisfied

Habila

reaching where you are today?

First, I thank God for my career. But like in every other thing about life, one is never satisfied.

That is how life works. You keep pushing. It is like an artist, he keep on trying to find new forms and ways and also trying to discover new subject matters. So because of that I am also doing a lot of other things. I teach, i am a father and I daily practiced my

writing. There are so many other things I do just like any other Nigerians. And that is how it works.

I also try to learn from those who are before me especially those better than me.

What are the challenges writers faced in trying to write a good book?

There are so many of them.

Every writer will tell you they are uncountable. For me, it is sometimes trying to get the time to write. Sometimes, it is trying to make ends meet. Some other times, it just finishing a copy of book you are working. Writing a good book or other materials is not an easy job or a jamboree, because you must have an inspiration and the story you want to tell clearly. So there are many challenges. They confront not only writer but other creative person who wants to come out with something new. You keep discovering the challenges daily. But one is thankful that he is healthy.

27 Our Heritage

Zambia assistant coach, Kawri quits CHAN

Z

Kawri

ambia assistant coach Irfan Kawri has left the bench at the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Rwanda to return to the United Kingdom.

Kawri, who was appointed assistant coach in December to replace Fighton Simukonda who was dropped from the team, has left the team’s base in Rubavu and departs just three days after the team arrived in Rwanda for the tournament that kicked off on January 16.

“Assistant coach Irfan Kawri has returned to Lusaka from where he will proceed to go back to his England base,” the Football Association of Zambia said in a statement.

Faz said Kawri has returned to the UK due to private and family reasons.

“Coach George Lwandamina and Kawri informed the squad of the private reasons,” Faz stated.

“Lwandamina hailed Kawri’s work and greater contribution to the preparation of the CHAN team.”

Page 28

CHAN: Obaroakpo

P

to miss Niger clash

Pinnick justifies

reconstitution of standing committees Pinnick immediate past NFF General Secretary, Barr. Musa Amadu as chairman, and Prof.

Femi Adegbesan, a professor of sports psychology at the University of Ibadan, as vice chairman.

Legal luminary, Barr. Eddy Mark still heads the Appeal Board; other members are Alh. Ibrahim Galadima, a former NFF President; Hon. Sani Ahmed Toro; Dr. Bolaji Ojo-Oba and Mallam Kassim Bayero (a former international player and presently director in the Federal Ministry of Environment) are also on the Appeal Board.

The Technical and Development Committee is now headed by Barr. Chris

: is n n e /T T Take your health serious, Bankole urges players

T

he Technical Director, Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Anderson Bankole, on Sunday urged players to give their health utmost priority for improved sporting outcomes.

Bankole told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that players could only engage effectively in table tennis if they had good health.

“There is nothing greater than being in

Prove you worth, Hamman tells Sturridge Monday, January 18, 2016

ANDREW EKEJIUBA Sport Editor resident of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Pinnick at the weekend reiterated that the reconstitution of a number of the Federation’s standing committees and the judicial bodies were done only after extensive consultations with various football interest groups and stakeholders in the country.

While dissolving the 20 standing committees and two judicial bodies at the end of the NFF Annual General Assembly in Abuja on December 16, 2015, Pinnick stated that the dissolution was to reinvigorate the committees, make room for more inclusive arrangement and bring in more highly –qualified personalities.

The quality and capacity of membership of the six standing committees and the two judicial bodies released on Friday has validated Pinnick’s claims.

In an unprecedented move, the NFF has sought to carry along various interest groups, while also including some of the leading football personalities in the land.

The Ethics and Fairplay Committee is now headed by Mazi Amanze Uchegbulam, a former NFF 1st Vice President and the Deputy President of the CAF Appeal Board. Also included in that Committee are Barr. A. U. Mustapha (vice chairman); Dr. Ahmed Tijjani Yusuf (two –time NFF General Secretary and lecturer at the Bayero University, Kano); Mr. Mainsara Illo; Hon. Musa Elayo Abdullahi; Hon. Bukola Olopade (former Commissioner for Sports in Ogun State) and Chief Abel Ehigie, a Benin High Chief and immediate past Chairman of the Edo State Football Association.

The Disciplinary Board have the

g 31

good health; it is only a healthy person that can do sports.

“I urge players to go for medical check-up regularly, as sometimes, when we do not go for it, we will not know when something is going wrong in our body.

“I do not see how someone who is not healthy can be involved in sports; doing sports involves stability and

Green, with former Nigeria captains Christian Chukwu, Mutiu Adepoju, Victor Ikpeba and Garba Lawal retained. Barr. Isaac Danladi, Chairman of Nasarawa United FC and Chairman of Club Owners, has been drafted in. Also retained is Mr. Paul Bassey, CAF General Coordinator and FIFA Match Commissioner.

Still to be reconstituted are the Organizing, Finance, Legal, Players’ Status, Sports Medicine, Media and Publicity, Football, Futsal/Beach Soccer, Strategic Studies, Marketing, Sponsorship and Television Advisory, Women’s Football, Protocol and Ceremonial and Youth Football Committees.

energy.

“There is nothing like managing health when it comes to sports and I am an advocate of taking absolute care of oneself,” he said.

According to Bankole, sportsmen also need healthy meals to aid their performance.

“They need to eat healthy foods to keep fit and this will include more fruits in their diet.

“They should ensure that they do not miss their breakfast; breakfast is one meal of the day that should never be missed; breakfast keeps one going all through the day and it awakens one’s mental ability.

“It also sets the body moving for the day,” Bankole concluded.

N

igeria centre half Austin Obaroakpo will not feature in Super Eagles ‘Team B’ opening game at the 2016 CHAN against Niger Republic at the Stade Nyamirambo in Kigali today.

Obaroakpo is suspended for the clash following two yellow cards in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifying games against Burkina Faso in Port Harcourt and Ouagadougou last year.

“Austin Obaroakpo is suspended for the match against Niger Republic,” spokesman of the Nigeria men’s national team, Toyin Ibitoye, confirmed on Sunday from Rwanda. “No doubt he is one of our best defenders and leaders, but the team will have to soldier on without him. There are capable replacement in the team to take his place.”

Nigeria head coach, Sunday Oliseh, will now turn to either Stephen Eze or Samson Gbadebo, who play in the heart of defence for their clubs, Sunshine Stars and Lobi Stars respectively, to play alongside Jamiu Alimi.

The pair of Orji Kalu Okagbue and Matthew Etim, who are full-backs, can also play as centrebacks.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles also have Tunisia and Guinea to face in Group C of the CHAN and Obaroakpo will return for the next game against North African opposition Tunisia on Friday.

Obaroakpo

Monday, January 18, 2016

EXTRATIME

29

CHAN 2016…CHAN 2016…CHAN 2016…CHAN 2016 DR Congo stun Ethiopia in Group B opener

T

he Democratic Republic of Congo began their bid for a second African Nations Championship (CHAN) title with a comfortable 3-0 win over Ethiopia in the opening match of Group B. DR Congo, who won the inaugural CHAN tournament in 2009, dominated the match in Butare, Rwanda, with Guy Lusadisu putting them ahead after 44 minutes.

After the break, the Leopards carried on where they had left off with Heritier Luvumbu heading in to make it 2-0 on 46 minutes, and Meschack Elia added a third nine minutes later.

It means the Walias of Ethiopia are still looking for their first point in the history of the competition.

They lost all three of their group matches in their first appearance at a CHAN finals in South Africa two years ago.

DR Congo striker, Heritier Luvumbu (middle) heads home the second goal against Ethiopia on Sunday at the ongoing CHAN in Rwanda.

CHAN Eagles midfielder Usman Mohammed (right) in action agains Niger in September, t 2015.

Nigeria target winning start against Niger

N

igeria will hope to get off to a winning start in the 2016 CHAN against next-door neigbours Niger today.

Kick-off time is 5pm Nigerian time.

Nigeria coach Sunday Oliseh said it was crucial to start the 2016 CHAN on a winning note.

“We have a very good team to do well, but we pray for a good start in the tournament,” said Oliseh, who faces his first major championship since he was appointed Super Eagles coach in July 2015.

Christopher Madaki and goalkeeper Femi Thomas said they

are seeking victory in the opening game in Rwanda.

“It’s victory we are going for against Niger Republic. Opening games are important in competitions and we are looking forward to starting the CHAN on a winning note,” said Giwa FC defender Madaki.

Enyimba goalkeeper Femi Thomas said he believes a two-week training camp in Pretoria, South Africa, has been worth it and this will be evident against the Mena of Niger.

“Our camping in South Africa helped us, it brought us together as a team. We are like a family in camp with high spirit. Victory is our target,”

Thomas enthused.

Nigeria will be buoyed leading up to today’s cracker after they defeated the same team 2-0 in a friendly in Port Harcourt in September.

Skipper Ahmed Musa gave the Eagles an 11th minute lead from the penalty spot, before Moses Simon doubled the advantage five minutes from time.

It was a very physical game with Niger most uncompromising in the tackles. It could be a repeat today in Kigali.

Ghanaian-born Kofi Dan Kowa will be one of the most experienced players for Niger today having being an international since 2008. He featured at both the 2012 and 2013 AFCONs for his adopted country.

He has posted foreign stints in Tunisia, South Africa and most recently India. The daring central defender could also play as a defensive midfielder and scored in both legs of the qualifiers against Togo.

Niger made their debut at the 2011 tournament in Sudan and reached the quarterfinals, where they lost on penalties to the hosts.

As it were, Niger stopped Nigeria from the 2011 competition after they overcame Coach Daniel Amokachi’s team in Kano.

Nigeria first played at the CHAN two years ago in South Africa, where they finished third.

Niger eliminated Togo to qualify for Rwanda 2016, while Nigeria saw off Burkina Faso.

Uganda Cranes denied CHAN bonus

U

ganda Cranes players and officials are not happy that their Football Federation has failed to come good on their promise after they qualified for the 2016 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN).

A source in the team revealed that they have traveled to the competition not happy because they have each not received the US$1,000 which they were promised upon qualification.

“We did our part and now the Federation should also come good on their promise,” said the source who did not want to be disclosed.

Before facing Sudan in the qualifier last year, Uganda FA President, Moses Magogo announced that the FA would reward each member on the contingent with US$1,000 if they qualified.

However when asked to explain the situation, the FA head of Finance, Decolas Kiiza refused to disclose more. “ I have nothing to say about that matter. But we have spent lots of money to bring Gabon and Cameroon to play friendly games,” he said.

30

Monday, January 18, 2016

EXTRATIME

BRIEFS

B

ayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski says he is “not passionate” about the Ballon d’Or but acknowledged his pride at being in the running with the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar.

The Poland international finished fourth in the award for last year, behind winner Messi, runner-up Ronaldo and Neymar after an

Cole

Cole quits Roma, joins LA Galaxy

R

oma defender Ashley Cole has accepted an offer to join LA Galaxy. The former Chelsea left-back has said goodbye to his team-mates at the Serie A side, having cancelled his contract with them. Cole’s days at the club appeared numbered after he was left out of Roma’s 25-man Champions League squad and he now looks set for a swansong in the MLS. The 35-year-old, who won 107 caps for England, played 16 times for the club in his first season in the Italian capital but has yet to feature during the current campaign.

impressive 2015 for club and country.

Lewandowski helped Poland to Euro 2016 with a second-place finish in Group D while winning the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal with

Ballon d’Or not important to me

—Lewandowski

Gladbach open to Xhaka sale

B

orussia Monchengladbach sporting director Max Eberl says the club will be forced to consider any sizeable bids for highly-rated midfielder Granit Xhaka. The Switzerland international has been linked with the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool recently, having become a key part of Gladbach’s plans since arriving from Basel in 2012.

Rafinha set to miss Hamburg clash

R

afinha is a doubt for Bayern Munich’s clash against Hamburg on Friday due to a knee injury. The fullback sustained the knock in Bayern’s 2-1 friendly defeat against Karlsruher and will be unable to train over the coming days. Champions Bayern are set to resume their Bundesliga campaign at Volksparkstadion having opened up an eight-point lead over Borussia Dortmund before the mid-season break.

Rafinha has made 14 league appearances for Bayern this season.

Capello: Zidane

Lewandowski

Almeida

B

undesliga strugglers Hannover have announced the signing of free agent Hugo Almeida.

The Portugal international was plying his trade with Anzhi Makhachkala in the Russian Premier League before parting ways with the club six months into his contract.

Almeida has already played under Hannover coach Thomas

Almeida

Schaaf during a spell at Werder Bremen from 2007-2010.

Hannover were quick to snap up the 31-year-old as they look to push their way up the Bundesliga table.

“I jumped at the chance when I got this interesting offer,” Almeida said. “When the coach called me I said yes straight away, I never lost sight of the Bundesliga and I always wanted to return.”

orussia Dortmund forward Marco Reus wants the club’s hierarchy to hang on to the likes of Mats Hummels and Ilkay Gundogan and end any uncertainty over their long-term futures.

Hummels’ and Gundogan’s contracts at Signal Iduna Park expire in 2017 but have both

can lead Real to UCL glory!

F

Str uggling Hannover sign

B Reus seeks Dortmund stars’ stay

Bayern.

A five-goal haul in nine minutes during Bayern’s 5-1 win over Wolfsburg in September also highlighted the striker’s improvement since moving from Borussia Dortmund in 2014.

But the 27-year-old said: “I’m happy to be in that group of players. I’ve improved since I joined Bayern.

“But I can confess that I’m not passionate about the Ballon d’Or.” With Paris Saint-Germain set to lose star man Zlatan Ibrahimovic at the end of the season, Lewandowski has been talked up as a potential replacement.

The Pole added: “It’s very flattering to see PSG officials talk about me but I’m concentrated on my work here at Bayern.”

ormer Real Madrid manager Fabio Capello has backed Zinedine Zidane for great success as coach of the Spanish giants by leading them to UEFA Champions League (UCL) glory.

Zidane earned almost mythical status at the Santiago Bernabeu in five seasons as a player at Madrid and has spent the last three years working at the club as a coach - first as assistant to Carlo Ancelotti and then as Real Madrid Castilla coach.

The Frenchman was promoted to first-team coach last month following the departure of Rafael Benitez.

Capello was one of Zidane’s managers at Madrid - leading the club to a La Liga crown in 2007 - and the Italian coach believes the World Cup winner has the necessary skillset to achieve big things

played key roles in Dortmund’s revival under Thomas Tuchel along with in-form striker PierreEmerick Aubameyang.

The Gabon international recently affirmed his desire to stay at the club and Reus is eager to ensure other key players remain in Tuchel’s squad over the coming years as well.

Reus - who committed his future to the club with a four-year deal in 2015 - told reporters: “If the club wants to keep Gundogan and Hummels, then they will see to that.

“If you want to be on top, you have to invest in the team. We as players want to go to the very top and the club also wants that.”

Zidane at Madrid.

“He did very well with the Castilla, but he has the charisma to lead the Madrid to the top of the table and above all to win the Champions League,” Capello said.

“When the tenth Champions League title arrived, Zidane worked with Ancelotti, who was a great teacher for him.

“Carlo is one of the best in the world and Zidane learned a lot, like how to manage well known players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema and make them always feel the focus of the project.”

Capello said he felt Zidane’s stature as a player - something his predecessor Benitez lacked - would hold him in good stead among the dressing room despite his lack of experience as a coach.

Reus

Monday, January 18, 2016

EXTRATIME

31

hy Debuc re of

unsu Villa move

Guardiola

A

McQueen:

United must get Guardiola!

F

ormer Manchester United player Gordon McQueen believes his former club needs to do everything it can to land Pep Guardiola.

McQueen - who played at Old Trafford from 197885 - said that Guardiola’s managerial talents and track record should make him United’s top target to replace under-fire manager Louis van Gaal at the end of the season on their own merit.

H o w e v e r , McQueen says it is important United makes a serious play for Guardiola simply to stop him from arriving at cross-town rivals Manchester City.

“Imagine if Guardiola goes to City and they sign Lionel Messi who played for the Spaniard at Barcelona. That would devastate United. They might as well turn the lights out at Old Trafford - that would be the ultimate nightmare,” McQueen said.

“That’s why United have to go all out to get Guardiola, whatever it costs. United have the money, so just pay it.”

McQueen said Van Gaal had been given long enough to implement his philosophy and get results at United.

“The Van Gaal way just isn’t working for anyone and although I understand it’s in United’s thoughts to promote assistant manager Ryan Giggs and give him a go, if Guardiola is available they owe it to the fans to have a conversation with him.”

Debuchy

coaching

abroad

Rodgers

over the phone.”

Debuchy signed for Arsenal from Newcastle in July 2014 for £12m but he has made just two Premier League starts this term.

Asked if he regrets not leaving the Emirates in the summer, he replied: “Yes, I clearly lost six months.

“I would have preferred to leave last summer but the coach told me I would have my chance - it was not the case.

“I do not know who is responsible.

Last year I got injured and I’ve been away a long time and Bellerin played some good matches.

“This summer, I had a good preparation and I was able to resume the season - but the coach decided otherwise.

“It is very hard, I went through difficult times. This is the first time I find myself in this situation. Playing a match every two months, that’s not possible.”

Prove you worth, Hamman tells Sturridge

F

ers g Rod to open

rsenal right-back Mathieu Debuchy is considering whether to join Aston Villa or another Premier League club on loan but has not yet decided where he will move.

The Frenchman has insisted he cannot stay at Arsenal for the rest of the season, having struggled to break into the first team ahead of Hector Bellerin, but is unsure over joining Remi Garde’s struggling Villans.

Debuchy told reporters: “It’s true that there are clubs looking to sign me and right now I’m assessing my options.

“Whatever happens, I want to leave, even on loan. I can’t stay at Arsenal.

“Aston Villa are in great difficulty and that’s why I’m taking time before making a decision. They’re a big English club and I’m not ruling out the possibility.

“I have also talked to Remi Garde

F

ormer Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says he has had offers from around the world to return to management but insists whichever club he manages next must be in with a shot at winning a league title.

The 42-year-old has spent the past three months resting away from the game after being sacked

by Liverpool in October.

Rodgers has received a number of offers from at home and abroad but he is biding his time for the right

job.

Speaking on Sunday, Rodgers said: “I would consider going abroad.

“I’ve had a few offers both at home and abroad, but I want to find the time to recover well and make sure the motivation is renewed when I do back in.

“It could be anywhere as long as it’s exciting and the club want to work together.

“For me, wherever you go, you have to go to win (the league).

Whatever country it is, you want to be in with a chance of winning it.

Having nearly done it at Liverpool, that sort of thing really drives you.”

ormer Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann says time is running out for Daniel Sturridge to prove his worth at the club.

The striker has spent almost as much time in the treatment room than on the pitch in recent seasons, sustaining injury after injury.

And if the 26-year-old cannot answer doubts over his fitness, Hamann says Jurgen Klopp may be forced to sell him at the end of the season.

“Time is running out for Daniel to show that he is the striker to lead Liverpool’s attack in the future,” Hamann said.

“There is no doubting Sturridge’s quality, but I remember when I was at City that there were worries back then about his problems with injury.”

Hamann’s doubts over the England international’s future at Anfield are compounded by Klopp’s preferred style of play and demands of his players.

“Klopp needs a striker he can rely

on. Not only that, he expects every single one of his players to put in a shift physically,” he said.

“There have to be doubts whether Sturridge can cope physically with the system that Klopp plays.

“If he can’t, and if his fitness problems continue, then Klopp will not think twice about bringing someone else in.

“This is a big six months for Daniel. He has to get himself fit, play regularly and score goals.”

Sturridge

www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr

https://twitter.com/DailyTimesNGR

https://plus.google.com/+DailytimesNgr/posts

Published by folio communicationS ltd, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja. website: www.dailytimes.com.

dailytimesng

ng; email: info@dailytimes.com.ng. Tel: 018447948. GROUP EDITOR: Biodun duRoJaiYE news Hotlines: 08138773277, 08173901838. advert Hotlines: 08086296714

mondaY, JanuaRY 18, 2016

g 30

VOL. 2. NO.25

Price: n150

Ballon d’Or not —Lewandowski important to me

s ’ y e n o o R s n r a e e k i r t s late n i w ’ s l i v e D d Re at Anfield

Manchester United striker, Wayne Rooney (right), scores against Liverpool in the 78th minute in a scrappy encounter at Anfield on Sunday.

W

ayne Rooney’s late strike settled a scrappy encounter to give Manchester United and manager Louis van Gaal a vital 1-0 victory at Liverpool on Sunday.

In a game that was a pale shadow of previous meetings between these two Premier League superpowers, Liverpool had the better chances and United keeper David de Gea kept his side in it with fine saves from Adam Lallana and Emre Can. Jurgen Klopp’s side wasted other opportunities and paid the price 12 minutes from time when Rooney fired United’s first shot on target high past Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet after Marouane Fellaini’s header came back off the bar.

Van Gaal’s position had been under scrutiny after only two wins in United’s previous 11 games - but victory at Anfield is the perfect tonic and his team are now in fifth, just two points off the Champions League places.

Rooney’s status as United and England’s main man is often questioned - but once

again he proved he remains, along with the outstanding De Gea, one of Van Gaal’s most crucial players.

The 30-year-old lifelong Evertonian relishes winning at Anfield, and his delight was plain to see after he hammered home his first goal at Anfield since January 2005.

Liverpool have shown signs of promise in two big games at Anfield this week - but only earned a point against Arsenal with an injurytime equaliser and were beaten here.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said after the match: “I didn’t see too many chances for Manchester United and we didn’t take ours.

Of course it is frustrating. We lost a game that we should not have lost.

“We did really well creating the chances, but there were a lot of situations where we could have created more chances and didn’t.

There were a lot of positive things but we lost in a derby against Manchester United.”

Reacting, Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal said: “We know Wayne Rooney has played for Everton and now plays for United so he wants to score against

Liverpool, it means a lot for him.

“We have made a good start in 2016, to beat Liverpool for the second time in a row is marvellous, it gives a big boost for the players and the fans so I hope we shall continue winning.”

CHAN FIXTURES

Today’s Matches 15:00 v Guinea Tunisia 19:00 er Nig v Nigeria 2016 19, y uar Tuesday, Jan 16:00 bia Zam Zimbabwe v 18:00 nda Uga v Mali 2016 20, y uar Jan Wednesday, 00 15: on Gab v Rwanda 00 18: st Coa y Ivor v Morocco 6 201 21, y uar Thursday, Jan 00 15: ola Ang DR Congo v 16:00 Congo DR v Angola 18:00 ia iop Eth Cameroon v 6 201 22, y uar Friday, Jan 00 16: eria Nig v Tunisia 00 18: nea Gui v Niger

CHAN 2016 RESULTS DR Congo 3- 0 Ethiopia Angola 0 - 1 Cameroon PREMIERSHIP RESULTS Liverpool 0 - 1 Man United Stoke City 0 - 0 Arsenal SERIE A RESULTS Genoa 4 - 0 Palermo Bologna 2 - 2 Lazio Carpi 2 - 1 Sampdoria ChievoVerona 1 - 1 Empoli Roma 1 - 1 Hellas Verona Udinese 0 - 4 Juventus LA LIGA RESULTS Valencia 2 - 2 Rayo Vallecano Real Madrid 5 - 1 Sporting Gijon Getafe 3-1 Espanyol Las Palmas 0-3 Atletico Madrid LIGUE 1 RESULTS Lorient 0 - 2 Monaco Caen 1 - 3 Marseille EREDIVISIE RESULTS ADO Den Haag 0 - 1 Ajax FC Groningen 1 - 4 FC Utrecht Feyenoord 0 - 2 PSV Eindhoven NEC Nijmegen 1 - 0 Willem II

Business Times Daily Times Nigeria

CBN creates proliferation of BDCs- ABCON

Page B3

Thought Leadership

Falling share price: No relief in sight? Page B6

Page B4

Mixed reactions greets FG’s move to sell NNPC shares

Nigeria requires about $3b for sugar sufficiency production

Opeoluwani Akintayo Differing opinions have sprang up since the Federal Government declared its intention to list the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC on the Nigerian stock exchange for its first Initial Public Offering, IPO come 2018.

Last week Tuesday, the Minister for Petroleum and State Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, said in an interview with Bloomberg in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, that selling shares in NNPC’s downstream asset comprising its CONTINUED ON PAGE B2

ÏAs sugar refiners reiterate support for FG’s Sugar Master Plan Opeoluwani Akintayo

L-R: Executive Vice Chairman(EVC), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta; Chief of Staff to the EVC, Mr.Usman Malah; Director, Human Capital and Infrastructure Group, NCC, Hajia Maryam Bayi and Prof. Abdu Salihi of Bayero University Kano during the courtesy visit of Faculty of Engineering officials of BUK paid a solidarity to the EVC in Abuja recently.

NNPC to build new mega stations in every senatorial district ÏE ƕƏ è CƆ Ƒ è E Govs Pledge Support Augustine Okezie Abuja In a deft move to douse IPMAN’s strike threat and ensure efficient distribution and country-wide penetration of petroleum products, the Nigerian

Motolani Oseni Travelex, a global foreign exchange (forex) dealer has maintained its silence, following the fresh fact that emerged recently that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is proposing to position it as a replacement for Bureaux De Change operators (BDCs) to retail forex for end users. Daily Times learnt.

Travelex is the world’s largest foreign exchange bureau which specialises in international payments, bureaux de change and issuing prepaid credit cards

Monday, January 18, 2016

National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has commenced preparation to build new mega stations in each senatorial district in the country aimed at expanding f its retail outlets across the country.

Under the expansion plan, NNPC is seeking to expand the market share of its retail business to an appreciable level from the current 12 percent by building a mega station in every Senatorial district in the country in the

months ahead.

A press release made available to newsmen in Abuja yesterday which was signed by the NNPC’s Group general Manager Public Affairs, Mr. OHI Alegbe, said the Group Executive Director, Commercial and Investment, Dr. Babatunde Victor Adeniran led an NNPC delegation to visit Governor El-Rufai of Kaduna states to solicit for the support of Kaduna State Government to provide

lands for building new NNPC petrol stations in the state.

The statement further quoted Dr Adeniran as saying “Our mission is to build three mega stations, one each in the three senatorial districts of the state. We need about five thousand square meters for each of the station.

Each station will have six pumps including that of Liquefied Petroleum Gas which is cooking gas,” .

CONTINUED ON PAGE B2

Nigerian sugar refiners have said that the country needs about 3.1 US dollars to become self-sufficient in sugar production.

In the statement issued by the management of Nigeria’s second largest sugar refiner, BUA Sugar Refinery (BSR), the management of BSR said that giving the current state of currency fluctuations and a sugar industry that is still largely dependent on imported raw sugar, there is need for the government to work towards alternative means of income.

In a related development, BSR has also reiterated its support for the Backward integration policy (BIP) of the Federal Government’s National Sugar Master Plan. The company said that extensive work is ongoing at its Lafiagi, Kwara state BIP site with over 20,000 hectares and CONTINUED ON PAGE B2

Travelex keeps mum over plan to take over BDCs’ role for travelers. it bought Thomas Cook’s worldwide forex business in 2000 and has been purposed to received for £440 million weekly from CBN in order to expand it significant for international operations.

As part of our correspondent’s fact findings, the Vice Chairman, Non-Executive, Travelex Nigeria, Chief G .U Evulukwu, was contacted on the telephone but he said could not comment on the develop-

ment now.

Meanwhile, Managing Director/ CEO, SABIL Bureau De Change Limited said CBN’s desperation to meet dollar demands from banks, government agencies and importers prompted it to give dollar import license to Travelex.

Though, some financial analysts have said that the fear of winding up has made Bureau De Change Operators in the country to continuously lamenting

over the apex bank policies on forex market.

However, it would recall that ABCON had sometimes towards ending of 2015 noted that CBN’s desperation to meet dollar demands from banks, government agencies and importers had prompted it to give dollar import license to Travelex.

BDCs said that Travelex, may take over the retail segment of the forex market, due to the approval it has secured to open of-

fices across the country where dollar will be directly sold to banks, government and other end users in a move to bridge supply gap in the economy.

Its acting chairman, Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, disclosed that Travelex was licensed as a wholesale supplier and forex importer into Nigeria, but it was dabbling into retail segment where BDCs operate.

He explained that Travelex CONTINUED ON PAGE B2

Business News B2

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 18, 2016

Mixed reactions greets FG’s move to sell NNPC shares

NNPC to build new mega stations in every senatorial district CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

refining and distribution business, select exploration and production assets to the public is “inevitable and part of the cleaning up process” of the Corporation.

In an exclusive telephone interview with former Managing director, GTI Securities Limited, now CEO of Finawell Capital Limited, Tunde Oyekunle, the Economist said the move is welcomed, commending the FG taking the initiative of involving the public in the affairs of the NNPC. According to him, selling NNPC shares to the public will give investors the opportunity to invest, and also enable the common people have a say in how their God-given resources are being managed.

“It is a very necessary move because investors will be able to put their money down to be part of how the Corporation is being run. Not only that, the public will also have the opportunity to know everything that is happening in NNPC unlike what obtained in the past when everything is done in secrecy.”

He went further to explain that selling NNPC shares, will create for transparency, and give the masses that the government of the day now values them.

Oyekunle then called on wellmeaning investors to grab the opportunity and invest.

When asked whether or not the move will truly affect the masses in terms of oil prices not in total control of the FG, Oyekunle said he believes that the inefficiency and corruption in the Corporation has been because it is public owned. He however advised that the FG should still retain the larger share in the corporation for it to have the larger say in its affairs.

“It is a stepping stone for everyone to be involved because it will create efficiency and transparency”, he said.

Business Times also carried out a public poll on the move. While some greeted the news with open hands, others condemned the new, saying it may be an avenue to further exploit the already suffering masses.

Arik Air expands Ï ƊƊƄ ƃƄ ƅƉƆ Ǝ to Libreville Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo Arik Air is introducing a new service between Nigeria and Gabon as part of the airline’s expansion programme.

The airline which commenced flights February 12, 2016, will be flying from both Nigerian cities of Lagos and Port Harcourt to Libreville, Gabon.

In a release issued by Mr Banji Ola of corporate communications, said it will be the first international route launch in 2016 by any airline in Nigeria and also the first in the series of new destinations the airline is planning for its 10th anniversary year.

“The Lagos-Port Harcourt-Libreville service will operate thrice weekly on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday out of Lagos/Port Harcourt and on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday out of Libreville” “The outbound flight departs Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos at 5:20pm and arrives in Port Harcourt International Airport at 6:30pm. The flight thereafter continues onto Libreville, leaving Port Harcourt at 7:15pm and arriving in Libreville

Travelex keeps mute over plan to take over BDCs’ position CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

Kachikwu

International Airport at 8:30pm.

The inbound fight departs Libreville at 7:30am and arrives in Port Harcourt at 8:45am. The flight then leaves Port Harcourt at 9:30am and arrives into Lagos at 10:40am. All times are local”.

Banji said Libreville thus becomes Arik Air’s second destination in Central Africa and the 13thinternational destination.

Arik Air is the only airline to offer a direct service between Nigeria and Gabon.

According to him the city, being a notable trade center in the Gulf of Guinea, is haven for Nigerian traders especially those from the South Eastern region. It is also home to a ship building industry, brewing industry and it exports raw materials such as wood, rubber and cocoa from the main port.

He quoted Arik Air’s Managing Director/Executive Vice President, Mr. Chris Ndulue as saying: “This is Arik Air’s 10th year of operation and a perfect time to introduce new destinations. Connecting Lagos and Port Harcourt with Libreville is a perfect synergy because the three cities are important trade centers in West/Central Africa. Travelers on this route have a lot to look forward to in terms of safety and quality service which is a hallmark of Arik Air.”

has the contract, as a wholesale supplier of dollar in this country. For instance, if the CBN needs $500 million from CBN’s account in JP Maorgan, the apex bank will then direct Travelex to go JP Morgan, collect the dollar and bring it to the country.

That is the role Travelex

is also playing. It brings dollar into the country and is the one the CBN outsourced BDCs weekly allocations to.

He said, “We are not happy with Travelex because they now want to take over the business of BDCs through the backdoor.

In 2001, when the CBN introduced the pilot scheme to be selling travelers cheques to Nigerians, Travelex spearheaded

The governor who was said to have given express approval for lands to be made available to NNPC for the mega stations said: “I want to assure you that we will give you all the support that you need. The State Director of Lands will take the NNPC project team round the state to look at alternative sites. I don’t know how many you are building; we can give you as many as ten sites if you want”.

He stated that the supply of petroleum products was a key requirement for the prosperity of the country, adding that he was happy that NNPC was ready to invest heavily in the retail business to ensure that Nigerians are not exploited by private sector marketers.

He pledged the support of the state government to the success of the NNPC in general and the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC) in particular.

Speaking in similar vein during the consultative visit, Kano State, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje described NNPC as an indispensable business ally for socio-economic growth of Kano State and the country at large.

He said “Indeed, collaborating with the NNPC is indispensable if we are to achieve socio-economic development of the State. Kano State being the largest in terms of population and also the commercial nerve center of the North, there is no better organization to have an alliance with than the NNPC,” Gov. Ganduje said.

He said he has already directed the Commissioner of Lands to work with the NNPC project team in selecting sites that meet the commercial requirement of the new filling stations in all the senatorial districts of the state.

“We know the philosophy behind establishing such retail stations. Considering that you are the custodians of crude oil and petroleum products in the country, one may wonder why you are into retail business. But those of us in governance understand the situation because if you leave everything to the marketers, then the problem of control especially of the price and availability will become difficult”, Gov. Ganduje enthused, adding that NNPC mega stations have integrity and do not require any enforcement for compliance on approved prices of petroleum products.

Nigeria requires about $3b for sugar sufficiency production CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

it has another 50,000 hectares of farmland in Bassa, Kogi. These two operations form the fulcrum of BUA’s backward integration programme for Sugar and this will further reduce the country’s dependence on imported raw sugar while supporting the value chain in sugar production within Nigeria.”

At a roundtable in Abuja recently, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Sugar Development Council, Dr Latif Busari said there was hope for the sugar industry in Nigeria whilst identifying the fluctuation in prices of critical inputs in sugar cane production, owing to vagaries created artificially most times by the middlemen and profiteers in the distribution of such inputs as fertilisers, agro chemicals, water pumps and water delivery hoses, which most times goes beyond the capacity of the farmers as a major challenge. “Let me say now that our drive in the master plan is to first achieve 100 per cent self-suf-

ficiency. When we do that we can then think about export. It is very important that we stop the huge drain on foreign exchange and in the process create large number of jobs for Nigeria through the implementation of the Sugar Master Plan. That is our priority now,” he said.

The group also said it is set to discontinue credit facilities to their customers. This is expected to guard against any currency and transaction risks as well as prevent hedging.

BRS said that whilst the official exchange rate had remained stable, significant currency and transaction risks still exists for customers who collect sugar on credit. As a result, the company is temporarily discontinuing its credit lines to those customers effective today, Monday, January 19, 2016 till further notice.

This measure, according to the statement, will however not affect the company’s operations as sugar deliveries will continue to be made against verified payments.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 18, 2016

B3 Money Market

Diamond Bank becomes best SME bank in West Africa Diamond Bank Plc has been named and awarded the Best Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Bank in West Africa by the famous Banker Magazine in the 2015 West Africa Awards. The Bank also emerged as the Best Microfinance Bank in West Africa.

According to the awarding institution, the awards are in recognition of the Bank’s high value addition to the growth of micro businesses in West African and its leading role in stimulating the productive capacity of the SME as the engine that drives industrialization and sustainable economic growth and development.

A message from the awarding institution as reflected in the award certificates signed by Robin Amiot, Chief Executive Officer and Georgina Gongs, Managing Editor, stated that Diamond Bank’s success in the fiercely contested award categories by a lot of nominated banks in West Africa, is in recognition and reward for the quality of its financial products purely tailor-made to stimulate the productive strength of the SME sector and the unrivalled excellence in services to customers.

“The publishers of Banker Africa understand the importance of best-in-class benchmarks and growing a dynamic and successful regional finance industry. Your institutions success in the Banker Africa - West African Awards as category winners for Best SME Bank West Africa and Best Microfinance Bank West Africa,” reflects Diamond Bank’s superior creative vigour that has stamped her as a dominant financial house in the region.

According to Uzoma Dozie, Diamond Bank’s CEO, the investment and focus on the MSME segment is strategic and predictive.

In his view, the future of sustainable banking in Nigeria is retail, therefore it is necessary to grow and consolidate its strength in the segment.

Commenting on the success of the Bank in growing the SME sector, Ayona Trimnell, Head, Corporate Communications Division stated that the award is a huge testament of Diamond Bank’s strategic growth plan to see the SME as the hub of economic activity in the country, noting that an area in which the Bank has moved ahead of the pack is in the designing, management and delivery of SME stakeholder-orientated banking products and services.

L-R: Business Executive, Corporate Banking, Sterling Bank, Adegboyega Adegun; Executive Director, Corporate & Investment Banking, Kayode Lawal; Assistant General Manager, Turkey Export Import (EXIM) Bank, Alaaddin Metin and Business Executive, Corporate Banking, Mojisola Bakare at the formal signing ceremony of $40million facility from Turkey Exim Bank secured by Sterling Bank Plc... recently.

CBN creates proliferation of BDCs- ABCON Stories by Motolani Oseni Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), has said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele should be held responsible for rise in numbers of Bureaux De Change (BDCs) operators in the country.

The association also requested from the CBN governor the meaning of autonomous sources, stressing that BDCs are not the problem of the foreign exchange market.

CBN had recently announced its discontinued sales of foreign exchange to BDCs and urged operators of BDCs to seek for foreign exchange currencies through autonomous source.

In a statement issued by the ABCON President, Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, the operators noted that CBN in its deliberate policy licensed many BDCs as possible

Top bankers, gov officials, others to attend CIBN’s event in Ogun

but should have suspend issuing new licenses in 2014 after increasing the capital base of BDCs to N35 million and caution deposit of N35 million.

According to him, the Governor complained about increase in the number of BDCs and number of applications received per month.

“It is pertinent to note that it was a deliberate policy of the CBN to license as many BDCs as possible. For example, in 2014, when the CBN increased the capital base of BDCs to N35 million and caution deposit of N35 million, there was a drastic reduction in the number of BDCs, as out of the 2,500 BDCs in existence then, only 1,800 BDCs were able to meet the new capital requirement.

“The CBN at this point should have suspended or stopped granting new licenses.

“The management of the CBN for reasons best known to them however chose to continue to issue licenses to new BDCs. The

question is, why complain about proliferation of BDCs when you are the one granting the license?

“There was a time when the CBN suspended issuance of banking license, why not do the same in the case of BDCs. Thus Governor Emefiele should stop complaining about a problem he and the CBN created,” he said.

The ABCON President noted that despite the banning of 41 items from the nation’s foreign exchange market, the CBN has not been able to meet demand for legitimate items even in the official foreign exchange market.

He disclosed that CBN inability to meet demand for foreign exchange legitimate items usage is responsible for fuelling demand at the parallel market and depreciation of the naira in the market.

In his words, “This is the reality, Governor Emefiele did not want to acknowledge to the world. This is a reality that cannot be solved or wished away by

stopping dollar sales to BDCs because as indicated above what the CBN sells to BDCs is less than 10 percent of what it sells to banks.

Hence the decision to stop dollar sales to BDCs would only worsen the situation.”

Gwadebe explained that since Nigeria is an import dependent country, there would always be demand for foreign exchange for genuine business transaction as against for speculation and portfolio investors.

He said, “The policies so far introduced have created huge volumes of unsatisfied demand for foreign exchange for legitimate transactions, which have succeeded in enhancing patronage of parallel market and continued depreciation of the naira. The approach so far employed has only succeeded in aggravating the demand and supply dynamics of the foreign exchange market, and enhancing patronage of parallel market activities.”

Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) has announced that top bankers, organised private sector and top Governments officials across the country would storm Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, for the burial ceremony of the mother of its Registrar/ Chief Executive, Mr. Seye Awojobi.

CIBN at the weekend announced the passing on to glory of Mrs. Matilda Oladunni Awo-

jobi, recently in Ago Iwoye Ogun State. The institute said the burial ceremony which is scheduled for Friday 22nd, January 2016 and Saturday 23, 2016, at Methodist Church Cathedral Imere, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State is expected to attract top dignitaries from the banking and finance services industry, the organized private sector and top Governments officials across the country.

Mrs. Matilda Oladunni Awo-

jobi who until her death was a devout Christian, renowned Women leader and a good singer died at the age of 95.

Meanwhile, the bankers institute also called on professional economists, private business owners and whoever that wants to plan ahead in 2016 to attend the forthcoming Economic Outlook for 2016, with the theme: ‘Implication for Business in Nigeria”, which will hold in Lagos.

Thought Leadership B4 Joseph Tegbe Internet penetration in Africa at 15.6 percent is about half the world average.

While some may see this as cause for concern, it is not a true reflection of the level of access on the continent where individuals may not own terminals but access the internet at cybercafés. Additionally, individuals will soon have greater access to the internet as a result of digitisation (the migration from analogue to digital technology), which will further help to bridge the digital divide between emerging and developed markets.

Digitisation directly impacts both telecommunications and the broadcasting sectors. The successful completion of the digitisation process will result in a complete closure of analogue transmission and would act as an enabler for growth in both sectors. However, for these sectors to add value and to increase profit points will largely be dependent on easier, wide-spread and more cost effective access on the continent.

“In fact, it is estimated that digitisation will bring about a further drop in telecommunications carriage fees, and drive growth in ARPUs (average revenue per users), thereby increasing profitability and allowing content producers to focus on better material,” says Joseph Tegbe, Partner & Head, Technology Advisory at KPMG Nigeria. “Digitisation will not only impact the telecommunication industry but also the film industry, financial services, agriculture, healthcare, consumer market, and education sectors.”

Digitisation bringing about change According to KPMG Research, digitisation also impacts unemployment rates, GDP growth, as well as the literacy levels of countries, thus narrowing the gap between developing and developed economies.

Emerging markets are more export-oriented and driven by tradable sectors. As a result, they tend to gain more from the effect of digitisation on employment than from its influence on growth.

It creates jobs, with a 10 point increase in the digitisation score leading to a 1.02 percent drop in the unemployment rate. This is almost five times greater than the effect that the widespread adoption of broadband has on reducing unemployment.

“Analysis reveals that an increase of 10 percent in a country’s digitisation score fuels a 0.75 percent growth in its GDP per capita.

As an economic accelerant, digitisation therefore is 4.7 times more powerful than the 0.16 percent average impact of broadband deployment on per capita GDP,”

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January18, 2016

Drop in telecoms carriage fees will drive broadband access in Africa

adds Tegbe.

“Additionally, the economic effect of digitisation accelerates as countries move to more advanced stages of the process. Digitally constrained economies receive the least benefit, largely because they are yet to establish an ICT ecosystem that can capitalise on the benefits of digitisation.

Transition from analogue to digital technology would mean an increase in data and information and would see the African economy shift more rapidly to a knowledge economy. This would mean that the gap between the rural and urban areas will also be reduced thus improving literacy.

Cross-industry impact The type and extent of the impact that digitisation has on a sector of the economy is determined mainly by the interaction of these four areas of the sector – Business Models, Go-to-Market Strategy, Production, and Operations.

“Digitisation is fundamentally reshaping business models. It is lowering barriers to entry and expanding market reach for enterprises. In terms of a go-to-market strategy, it is changing how companies build brands and products, communicate, and provide servic-

es to their customers. Companies are increasingly relying on social media to build brands. Close to 40 percent of those online use the web to research items that they buy in physical outlets. Digitisation is also enabling companies to create products tailored to customers’ tastes.” he says.

In addition to this, digitisation is changing the way companies manage their production assets.

It has enabled companies to move labour intensive tasks to emerging economies while competing to develop the best design and user interface. Just consider how the advent of 3-D printing is creating a new way to manufacture complex products and leading to the import of jobs back to developed economies.

Finally, digitisation has had the greatest impact on the way companies organise and operate to generate competitive advantage.

It has created more global entities, seamlessly in touch across continents, and has redefined the concept of office space. Digitisation is also allowing companies to outsource or completely automate a number of their back-end functions, enabling them to become more efficient.

Continues Tegbe: “If digitisation significantly enhances market access, then job growth will be more likely in that sector. However, if digitisation primarily drives efficiency growth and does not lead to new market creation, then that sector is likely to lose jobs. It is evident that digitisation will impact different sectors differently and this needs to be investigated thoroughly.”

Driving broadband growth But it is not through digitisation alone that Africa will grow in the connected landscape.

“Broadband creates an enabling environment for businesses and governments. Therefore, it improves overall productivity and creates jobs. Jobs such as construction works, trenching, laying of fibre-optic lines and installation of wireless towers will increase as broadband penetration increases,” says Tegbe.

“Broadband penetration will help promote and fund entrepreneurship and IT Initiatives and allow for a more skilled workforce that can take up outsourced IT jobs in major institutions. It also creates a knowledge economy to support e-health care and e-education provision which are managed by con-

tent providers of such services.”

The Nigeria National Broadband Policy and Rollout Plan has a projection to grow to 30% broadband penetration by 2017, which will show a significant increase in broadband and Internet access in the next three years.

“In Africa, the challenges to ICT is enormous and its impact on GDP, unemployment, literacy, population below poverty, and life expectancy is evident. However, these challenges also present opportunities.”

These include the potential for infrastructure, increase of ICT skills and familiarity through digital literacy programs, content, and application providers, as well as human development and training opportunities within the ICT sector.

The role of the public sector The public sector also has a vital role to play to help create an enabling environment. As at 2012, 48 countries in Africa had developed National ICT strategies with various initiatives being established throughout the continent to address shortage of IT skills.

As an example, the Government of Nigeria introduced several initiatives as an off shoot of its National ICT policy. These include the Open Access Broadband framework and licensing of InfraCos across the country to provide metropolitan back haul fibre infrastructure as well as the licensing of 2.3GHz spectrum to provide wholesale last mile wireless access in the country.

“It has therefore become essential for companies throughout Africa to embrace digitisation and assist the public sector wherever possible in helping meet their connectivity goals. Nurturing these partnerships will significantly enhance the socio-economic growth of the continent,” concludes Tegbe.

Joseph is a Partner and Head of the Technology Advisory unit of KPMG Nigeria and has deep experience in servicing various clients across the public and private sectors of the economy, delivering value-added results with leading practices. For more information, please contact joseph.tegbe@ng.kpmg.com © 2016, KPMG Professional Services, a partnership registered in Nigeria and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (‘’KPMG International’’), a Swiss entity.

All rights reserved.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 18 , 2016

B5 Features

Realising potentials of manufacturing sector through CBN’s forex policy Friday Atufe Globally, most countries that are import-dependent are facing hard times because of the falling price of crude oil and other commodities in the international market.

The development has called for prudent and creative ways of managing such countries foreign reserves. In this regard Nigeria, which falls into this category of nations that are import-dependent must begin to look for alternative sources of foreign exchange earnings to meet its import needs besides its official sources. Beginning from Professor Charles Soludo who started the clarion call to protect the foreign reserves from depletion and successive governors of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), have all made it a top priority to protect the reserves.

However, with the forceful depletion of the Excess Crude Account and the subsequent drawdown of the foreign reserves, Nigeria is now facing the reality of a low foreign reserve and strong appetite for importation of every goods and services.

If Nigeria does not apply the brakes as CBN has done through its recent policy of banning sale of forex to bureaux de changes (BDCs), the country shall all wake up one day and some corporates will not be able to import critical raw materials needed for their operations.

Letters of Credit will dry-up very fast because no foreign financial institution will be willing to risk its investable fund in an economy without buoyant foreign reserves. Foreign currency reserves are vital to a nation’s economic well-being. Without adequate reserves, an economy can grind to a halt. The country may be unable to pay for critical imports like crude oil, or service its external debt.

Those asking for liberalisation of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s hold on the forex market are simply asking Nigeria to grind to a halt after years of forceful depletion of the Excess Crude Account and Foreign reserves.

The last episode of currency crisis in Nigeria was managed through the deployment of our huge reserves to prop-up the Naira. That war chest is no longer available and the only available option is to provide a floating flexible managed forex policy, which the CBN has been doing

practically well.

Nigeria’s inability to turn its potential productive capacity into earning productive capacity has use its precious reserves to support importation of locally available items which in itself is a critical factor in unemployment crisis in the economy.

Every time the CBN pays for the importation of a rod of steel, toothpick, egg, pampers, American juice or aluminium, employment is being exported to the producing country and unemployment is being imported as a by-product of these locally available imports.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) defines reserve assets as external assets that a country’s monetary authority can use to meet balance of payments financing needs, use to affect currency exchange rates in currency exchange markets, and other related purposes.

Most nations hold the vast majority of their foreign currency reserves in U.S. dollars and a much smaller portion in euros. This is because a sizeable war chest of foreign currency reserves is especially handy during a currency crisis, since it can be used to defend against speculative attacks on the national currency.

Take for example Russia, which holds substantial foreign currency reserves, is a good example. In 2014, the United States and the European Union imposed economic sanctions on Russia for its involvement in the Ukraine conflict. Coupled with a 50 percent plunge in the price of crude oil (Russia’s largest export and a key driver of its economy), these sanctions severely impacted the Russian economy.

The Ruble slid 40 percent against the dollar in 2014, but the outcome could have been far worse if Russia had not intervened in foreign exchange markets to prop up the Ruble, expending more than $80 billion of its reserves in doing so.

Can Nigeria attempt the Russian $80 billion Forex Intervention? The answer is no, therefore the proponents of anti-CBN policies and the Sack Emefiele group are just begging the solution to the currency crisis. If not for the timely introduction of precautionary measures by the CBN, Nigeria would have grinded to a halt without adequate foreign reserve to back our imports and balance of payment positions.

Emefiele

We are in a race to salvage the Nation, Economy and the Naira, it is about time that the practitioners in the Entertainment industry begin to take their place in the scheme of things, one cheap source of foreign exchange earnings is from entertainment product/ services export from Nollywood Entertainment Industry is an under-tapped and underdeveloped foreign reserve generator, which if properly structured can earn the country a minimum of a $1billion dollars averagely per annum.

Away from Entertainment, how about Solid Minerals? According to Solid Mines Limited, Nigeria stands to earn about $50 billion from her abundant solid minerals if the necessary framework is put in place to harness the resources. Indeed, the nation has been estimated to possess over 400 solid minerals, 40 of them available in commercial quantities, though only 13 of these are being exploited at present.

This is believed to have dragged down the sector’s contribution to the national economy to a paltry 0.3 per cent and generating about $1.5 billion into the country’s coffers.

A document obtained from Solid Mines Limited, showed that the sector could add as much as $50 billion to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by climbing from 0.3 per cent to 10 per cent growth in the next three to five years, if the necessary investment is made.

Besides, optimal utilisation of the solid minerals could also cre-

ate over one million direct and indirect jobs within Nigeria and far increase Africa’s inter-trade activity, which currently stands at $110 billion.

The document stated in part: “The under-development of the mineral sector has resulted in Nigeria importing minerals that can be locally produced thus missing out on the opportunity to increase local output, earn foreign exchange and create jobs.

This is the crux of the matter, Nigeria imports what it can readily produce locally and the forex policy of the CBN has been designed to encourage local production of these minerals thereby increasing local productive capacity, improve foreign exchange earnings and creating millions of jobs.

Over 40 solid minerals have been discovered in commercial quantities in Nigeria. Some of these include: barites, gypsum, limestone, bismuth, marble, feldspar, mica, gold, coal, bitumen, considerate, silver and germ stone, iron ore, lead-zinc, talc, copper, kaolin, among others.

Other foreign exchange generators are agricultural sector, IT Exports, Oil and Gas. Take for example when the Dangote Refinery will come on-stream, it will generate $6billion dollars, if we have ten such refineries in Nigeria that will be a total of $60billion generated by 10 refineries.

The message of the CBN Governor is very clear, give me more Dangotes then you can enjoy on restricted access to foreign exchange, if one source is generating $60billion add to our current $28billion, Nigeria will have in

its foreign Reserve Vault a total of $88billion.

This will achieve two things speculative attack on the Naira, will subside and Naira can maintain an assured stability backed by strong foreign reserve position. Lazy way out of this situation is to submit to devaluation.

I want to ask, if the CBN were to devalue the Naira, what will be the exchange rate?

CBN is selling at N197/$1 and it is N280/$1 in the parallel market, if we devalue then it becomes N350 to a dollar and you can determine the attendant implication on all imported goods and services.

On BDCs, Nigeria is the only country in the world where the Central Bank sells FX directly to BDCs. Despite the benevolence of the CBN, greedy BDCs bought at N197 but sold at N270. Hence, the intended “subsidy” was not reaching Nigerians, as in the case with fuel subsidy.

This arbitrage opportunity attracted many unscrupulous persons into the BDC business.

Before CBN started selling FX to BDCs, there were only 74 in 2005.

In the 10 years since CBN started FX sales to BDCs, the number is now 2,800 with 150 applications for licenses every month.

Note the similarities between the rise in number of BDCs and what happened in the oil industry when the number of oil marketers rose sharply from under 20 to almost 150 in the height of the subsidy scam. At its height, the Bank used to allocate US$8.6 bn to BDCs per annum. This potential saving is better re-allocated these funds to raw materials, plants, equipment, fuel imports, BTA/PTA, etc.

Indeed, why should a business enterprise be established only on the basis that the government must supply its goods or raw materials, especially when the government DOES NOT make these products? How can someone open a tomato shop and insist that the government must supply the tomatoes for him/her to sell? Why can’t the trader source the goods?

The contentious attachment to arbitrage by unregistered Bureau De Change operators and the registered BDCs in collusion with some unscrupulous elements in the organised sector does not create employment rather it creates pressure on the naira and by extension instability in currency valuation.

Capital Market B6

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 18, 2016

Stock market last week 0 ƉƉƆ ƍƄ ƋƍƆƃƄë M ƍƄƉƆƄƅ Ɔ Ɔ Ǝî

Losing streak lingers two weeks into new year Ï Md& d9 Ƌ ƍƄ ƂƓ ƟƠü A turnover of 1.459 billion shares worth N14.165 billion in 15,164 deals were traded last week by investors on the floor of the Exchange, in contrast to a total of 899.604 million shares valued at N7.669 billion that exchanged hands the previous week in 14,164 deals.

The Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 1.287 billion shares valued at N8.953 billion traded in 10,020 deals; thus contributing 88.17 percent and 63.20 percent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

The Consumer Goods Industry followed with 59.832 million shares worth N3.072 billion in 2,165 deals. The third place was occupied by the Conglomerates Industry with a turnover of 56.606 million shares worth N152.949 million in 695 deals.

Trading in the top three equities namely – Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Zenith International

Bank Plc and FBN Holdings Plc. (measured by volume) accounted for 693.443 million shares worth N7.719 billion in 5,960 deals, contributing 47.51 percent and 54.49 percent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

The NSE ASI plummeted by 13.00 per cent, following five consecutive trading days of losses which positioned the index level at 23,514 points.

The week’s loss further stretched the market’s Year-toDate return to -17.90 per cent.

Volume and Value of transaction appreciated substantially by 102 per cent and 219 per cent WoW accordingly.

Market breadth pegged at 0.10x as only six (6) stocks appreciated in the week, while fifty-nine (59) stocks waned in share value.

The gainers’ chart was championed by Ashaka Cement, Custodian Insurance and Honey Well Flour, recording the week’s highest returns of 10.42 per cent, 4.68 percent and 4.05 per cent in the same order.

Capital market analysts appear not to be of the same accord on the state of the stock market which is currently experiencing a lot of apathy and free fall.

According to the latest edition of the weekly Investment Guide from Meristem, the negative sentiments that have permeated most sectors of the economy, which has resulted in a seeming free fall in the market is likely to continue this week.

“We do not anticipate a relief from this apathy in the near future, given our outlook for the general market, and the Consumer goods sector. However, we note that position taking opportunities exist for investors with long term horizon, though we note the inherent risk given current market apathy,” it stated.

According to the report, negative trend recorded in such sectors of the economy like agriculture, banking, consumer goods, healthcare, industrial goods etc in the last one week are pointers to more gloom periods to come.

However, in a chat with Daily Times at the weekend, a Stock Broker, Mr David Adonri opined that the negative trend had come to an end. According to him, the market has bottomed out as was witnessed on Friday, “so we expect a turn-around in activities from Monday. The volume that was traded on Friday was pretty high and it cut across several sectors of the economy, giving an indication that the market has bottomed out on Friday. It also indicated that the market is now more stable.”

He noted that throughout last week the market was going down daily at above three per cent, but on Friday it was about 2.9 per cent, indicating that having gotten to that level, more buyers had come into the market as the prices have become very attractive. “With that stability, I believe the worst times are over for now,” he added.

He said there was cause for optimism as a positive set in last Friday, adding, “You know the market has been correcting downward and has been affected by such factors as the declining price of crude oil in the international market vis a vis the expectation that the value of the naira would decline further, added to loss of confidence in government’s fiscal policies so far.

L-R: Ogun State Accountant General, Mr Olayiwola Dosunmu; Director, Global Business Development (UK), Mr. Kevin Moore; Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Adewale Oshinowo; Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Dada and Country Rep. Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment (CISI), in Nigeria, Mr. John Osuoha during a courtesy call of CISI team on the Commissioner in his OkeMosan, Abeokuta Office… at the weekend.

Chams appoints new directors

Stories by Azubike Nnadozie

Chams Plc has notified The Nigerian Stock Exchange of the retirement of two directors who worked in the company for about 21 years. The retired directors are Alhaji Idi Farouk and Engr. Akin Sawyer. Following their retirements, the board of the company has appointed as nonexecutive directors on the Board of the company subject to ratification by members of the company at the next annual general meeting: Mr. Kyari Abba Bukar, Professor Oye Ibidapo-Obe and Mr. Benjamin Ifeanyi Akabueze.

Mr. Kyari Abba Bukar holds a B.Sc. degree in Physics from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Ni-

geria. He also has an M.Sc. degree in Nuclear Engineering from Oregon State University, USA. Mr. Kyari is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc. Prior to joining the CSCS in September 2011, he was the MD/CEO of ValueCard Nigeria Plc (now Unified Payments Plc).

Mr. Kyari Abba Bukar worked with FSB International Bank (now Fidelity Bank) where he rose to the position of Executive Director, e-Banking and Information Technology and Operations.

Prior to that, he worked at Hewlett Packard USA in Silicon Valley, California where he held several positions. He is presently the Chairman of the Nigerian

Economic Summit (NESG), sits on the Board of Credit Registry Services Plc and is a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Investment Protection Fund of The Exchange.

He was one of the members of the Nigerian National Conference representing the organized Private Sector Group. Mr. Kyari Abba Bukar is an alumnus of Lagos Business School (LBS), Wharton Business School and Harvard Business School.

Professor Oye Ibidapo-Obe OFR, FAS, FA Eng: Professor Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe attended Ilesa Grammar School and Igbobi College 1962-1968 and the University of Lagos from 1968-1971 where he obtained a B.Sc. Hons in Mathematics – First Class in 1971.

He also obtained M.Sc. in Applied Mathematics with a minor in Computer Science in 1973 and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Civil Engineering with specialization in Applied Mechanics/Systems in 1976 both from the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.

Professor Ibidapo-Obe was also a Commonwealth Scholar (Canada) (1972-1976); an NSERC/ CIDA (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council/Canadian International Development Agency and a Senior Fulbright Research Scholar (1980 – 1981).

He served the University of Lagos from 1 October 1972 as a Graduate Assistant through 1976 as Lecturer Grade II till 1983 as Professor. He also served as Head of Engineering Analysis Unit (1991

- 1995) and the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at the University (1995-1999).

Mr. Ben Akabueze holds B.Sc. degree in Accounting in the First Class Division from the University of Lagos and also attended the prestigious Lagos Business School for an Advanced Management Programme.

He was awarded the JF Kennedy Scholar award, National Merit Scholarship for academic excellence (1980 - 82), Second Place Merit Prize – Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria Professional Exams (1984), Citibank Global Account Management award (1991) and the Distinguished Citizen Award – Anambra State Development Foundation (2003).

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 18, 2016

B7 Capital Market

NSE DAILY ACTIVITY SUMMARY ( EQUITIES) 15-01-2016

Business Interview B8

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 18, 2016

Over reliance on oil is a major risk to national economy An efficient petrochemical industry is precursor for a strong and competitive pharmaceutical sector anywhere in the world. In this interview, OKEY AKPA, MD/ CEO of SKG Pharma Ltd, who is also the Chairman, Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN) harps on the urgent need to grow the nation’s petro-chemical industry. He spoke with Charles Okonji.

What is your view about the economy?

One can say that the overall economy is facing challenges.

The high dependency on oil has over the years been identified as a major risk to the national economy. The dwindling prices of oil and precipitation have all joined to make up what we are seeing today.

Generally, everyone is aware of the challenges confronting businesses in Nigeria, especially in manufacturing which is considered to be a tough environment and so, PMG-MAN is essentially working with government agencies and every stakeholder to make sure that the right environment is created for the manufacturing industries.

There is a general problem confronting manufacturing in the country and pharmaceutical manufacturing is not immune from those problems. You talk about challenges of infrastructure, which drives cost of production when compared to that of other countries; it keeps those in Nigeria at disadvantage. So cost of doing business and cost of manufacturing in Nigeria is high when compared to some other places and this is not to say that it peculiar to Pharma, you will see it in so many other places. You would also talk about other environmental factors. A lot of people complain about multiple taxes and some undue pressure on businesses by government agencies and this is true and it is also applicable to the pharmaceutical sector.

When you look at growth, you have to position it with potentials.

Yes we are looking at what the industry can do, we are growing in terms of professionals, in terms of capacity, in terms of skills but

in terms of potentials, but we have not realised the potentials that exist in the industry. If you consider the size of our market, if you consider the size of the country, the industry can do a lot better if well supported. So when we talk about growth in the industry we have to grow against the potentials that exist. If position it against that potentials we would say the industry is not doing well as it should in terms of growth. We have potentials in the country to grow much bigger and faster and I would continue to say that Nigeria has the potentials to be the leading manufacturers of pharmaceuticals in West Africa.

Then coming to Pharma specifically, drugs are very unique items and in other countries, are treated as exclusive items. So Pharma manufacturing companies require some excusive protection from the government. They must be political will to protect this industry. It is critical to the development of the country and the well-being of its citizens and so government must develop a special interest, and we require a special protection for the industry.

This protection is in the area of patronage by government agencies which will encourage to us continue to grow. It is in the area of making sure that local capacity is continuously grown to the level we say that it is developed. In the area of policy, it requires that 70 per cent of the drugs that are to be used in Nigeria be manufactured locally in Nigeria.

Though, the economic situation is challenging but, the new policy giving hopes that there will be a positive shift to the scenario. The recent budget has been well thought out and crafted for results. It is an optimistic budget; it is not a pessimistic budget.

Akpa

‘‘There is a general problem confronting manufacturing in the country and pharmaceutical manufacturing is not immune from those problems. You talk about challenges of infrastructure, which drives cost of production when compared to that of other countries; it keeps those in Nigeria at disadvantage.’’

The budget has taken a reflective position instead of a deflective position. So, I see the budget as a positive one.

The shift in emphasis to addressing the infrastructural base is a welcome idea to PMGMAN that the government is focusing on building the power sector, roads and transport system amongst others.

The attention given to security is also a positive idea, welcomed

by PMGMAN. The minister of finance and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria have structured out how the deficit would be financed, but what is important to Nigerians is for the budget to be properly implemented.

The pharmaceutical sector remains a very critical sector, both from the health and the economic points of view. This industry still remains strong with a lot of potentials which I know that the government has taken a very positive step towards addressing the challenges we have been agitating for.

About dumping Well, dumping would always be threat to any sector; unnecessary importation of things that we can produce in Nigeria, especially when these goods being imported from the countries that have better manufacturing environment and it is a major disadvantage to

us. So, Nigeria has to brace up, so that we can have every advantage and opportunity to be able to produce. I will continue to say the performance of the industry is good, healthy, but when compared to potentials, it could be better and I keep on hammering it is this potentials that we are working in collaboration with all the necessary agencies and boards to activate and to actualize. So I will rate it as good today but against potentials, it could be better.

Infrastructural challenge Here, power. Using generators does not give you the operational efficiency that you obtain using the public power supply. It also has some implications on the efficiency of some the machine you are using. We have come to the conclusion that using generators and other ancillary would not give you the required efficiency that you will get from using public power. The then, the roads, insecurity, cost of finance. Specifically to Pharma, we demand patronage from government because government is a heavy spender. We need special government intervention funds, political will against unwholesome competition. We also demand a take-off of Nigerian Petrochemical industry as it serves as a precursor to providing most of the raw materials needed by the pharmaceutical industry.

Your take on local content Local content is a word that is heavily abused as far as I am concerned. When you say local content, is it in form of human capital, skill and management constitute the part local content, If you put all together, we will say local content level is growing.

The fact still remains that the raw material being imported into the country. Part of what we mean when we say potentials in Nigeria Pharma industry. If you look at Nigeria, it is an oil exporting country, there is no reason why there shouldn’t be an active petrochemical industry. The active petrochemical industry serves as the base structure upon which the production of many pharmaceutical active ingredients is developed and so, this particular primary industry is not being developed. It is going to be impossible for any pharmaceutical manufacturer to embark on backwards integration to produce. Because of all these necessary imputes of the necessary petrochemical ingredients, Nigeria Pharma manufacturers keep importing. Apart from that, every other thing in the local content is locally provided.

That is why we say the potential is growing. In the whole of SKG, there is no separate, nearly all our top members, there are no experts.

Life&

TIMES Monday, January 18, 2016

Kehinde

Bankole

From Beauty queen, modelling to acting

L2

P

Interview L2

Daily Times Nigeria

Monday January 18, 2016

What I consider before taking up a script – Kehinde Bankole When it comes to good acting and bringing a character to life, Kehinde Bankole knows her onions. The former Miss Lux, who also had a stint in modeling, has starred in countless soap operas, movies, and Kunle Afolayan’s flick, October 1, earning her the Best Actress in Drama at the 2015 edition of the African Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards for her role as Tawa in the movie. Cornered at the finale show-down of Hotel Majestic held at the Intercontinental Hotel Lagos, Kehinde in this interview with MUTIAT ALLI, talks about her beginning, her dream role and other sundry issues. Excerpts:

Life&

T E A M

You starred in the yet to be released Beyond Blood, let talk about your role in the movie?

I played the role of Moji Dosunmu and I want to implore my fans to go see the movie as soon as it is released in cinemas.

How challenging was your role?

It’s different from other roles I have played before now. Moji is a philanthropist; Moji is a very caring concerned citizen who look out for the less privilege, who look out for the troubled ones in the society because she is from a privileged home which is something I have not played before. Moji has a good heart but with every good intention there is always one challenge or the other. It is not as easy as she thought it would be to just give herself, as she is going on about her business, giving herself to the society, trying to help her mates better but she encounter different challenges.

2015 was one of your better year, winning AMVCA and all that, how is 2016 going to be?

2016 better be amazing. I’m very anxious, I’m very excited about 2016.

There is a lot more work to be done.

I’m not discouraged, I’m not afraid, I’m ready to face whatever to get to the new level. With every opportunity and every progress comes more responsibility; that you won something last year means you have to prove to people why you won it. You have to sustain the reason why you won it and now this is the part where we do the work so that you keep the people who have given you that opportunity, you keep them encouraged and let them be sure that they didn’t make a mistake.

Since the beginning of 2016, how many films have you been featured in?

Sincerely, I have been reading scripts to decide which ones to take and the ones we would not be taking.

I’m working closely with my management. Since about November last year, we have been reading materials, talking to people and making decisions for the new year but we haven’t gone on any location so far but I’m embarking on one in few days.

Do you still have dream roles?

I have many dream roles, and I haven’t even started with so many of

them. I still want to play a drug addict.

I want to play the serial killer, I want to play the physically active woman who has action. There is so much I want to do, I have just started, I’m very eager.

At this point of your career, aside you winning AMVCA awards, will you say you are at that point of your career that you have finally arrived?

I will say I’m at the point where I need to take my work seriously. I don’t know anything about finally arriving. I have not arrived. They have giving me the encouragement to go for what I want, I’m here now going for what I want. I have not arrived.

In the course of you going into theatre, were your parents in support?

Yes, because I started through the church drama. They used to see it like I’m spending so much time, there is church service, and there is choir rehearsal, drama rehearsal. They were interested in me doing acting but they didn’t want it to take too much of my time because they were concerned for other things. WAEC exam was coming then, JAMB exam and other things.

They were really concerned, but once I got into the university and they saw that I have crossed that hurdle, the rest was easy for them and they accepted.

You have a twin sister, people get to wonder why we don’t get to see her too in movies. Is it that she is not showing interest or you are not carrying her along?

She is not an actress, she is an event planner. She started out acting before me. As her career grew, she made decision to focus on her event planning business, but that is not to say if she wants to come back, she won’t.

These days we see more female actress delve into production and directing, are you also going into that direction?

No, I’m an actor. Well, if I have the opportunity to produce something, it doesn’t have to be film, it could be telling a serious story through documentary.

There are people who do this, somehow I could be involved in the process of the production. I don’t have anything against it but I am an actor.

Which will you consider more challenging, being a stage performer or a normal actress?

Movie and Music Correspondent Mutiat Alli

Society Correspondent Isaac Oguntoye

Both of them are challenging. Stage is very disciplined, very challenging because you don’t have a second take, there is no rewind and let me take it again and so, what you give at that time is what the people are going to get. It is important you make your decision for stage like in fraction of a second, you have to decide how you want to deliver that role within a fraction of a second, and once it’s done, you can’t take it back. It helps you to focus. People think acting a movie is simple but it is not, it is also equally challenging. The opportunity you have to act a stage play once is not like that of a film, you might have to re-do like 30 times, think about rewinding a particular emotion, the stress of having to put yourself on the same level of that emotion for about 30 times, especially if there is a crowd in a scene and you have to re-do a scene plenty times and have to sustain the same level of energy, if you have to remember something bad that made you be in the mood, you have to remember that over and over if you are asked to act the scene over again. So it is equally challenging if not even more, it’s a lot of hard work.

What do you look out for in a script before you consider the script worthy?

The direction the story is going.

There are some stories you will see and you will understand what they are saying but you don’t understand the direction it’s going. That is what I look out for. I want a good story. Apart from the story being good, I should be able to understand the direction, there is a theme, a message the story is trying to pass.

Whatever happens to me the first time I open a script will be happening to the people watching at home. We serve as the bridge between the people at home watching the movie and the person writing the story.

Some of your colleagues reject script based on who the other casts members are, do you also find yourself in such situation? it is not a yes or a no, if it is important to the life of that film, I have a team, we sit down and we make a decision, if we think the smallest person is not good for that film or the biggest person is not

Photography Quadri Olowolagba

good, it is business decisions that people make will make them turn it down or accept it, I necessarily do not have to say because an actress is in it or not in it, I look at the story, sometimes if a story is very good and they cast you and you know within yourself that you don’t find yourself in the story, you can’t deliver it, that is one of the reasons why you turn it down, you don’t think essentially because one actor is not there, it must be because of a business decision.

Do you also write scripts?

I write, not necessarily script, I write music, I write poems but am not officially a script writer.

A lot of your colleagues in the movie industry have also delved into music, are you looking forward to releasing a demo?

Every day of my life, music is part of it. Secondly, I minister, I sing. Music is part of me so whichever avenue the music is going to come out from is open to any opportunity I find. There is no solid information at the moment but music is a part of me. If I get a record deal that me and my partner that we sing together are asked to sing in a concert, we will take it. We have singles coming out, if it is radio we will put it there. Music is part of my work and my personal life.

In the industry then before you joined and now, have there been any changes so far?

Yes there is change, amazing plenty good change. Those who are ahead

Graphics Adebambo Segun

of us have done a lot of work. There are now so many opportunities, there are young producers, actors. It is spreading everywhere, the media is coming to us and we are also going to the media. It is not everybody in entertainment that are acting, everybody is doing serious work here. There are editors, cinematographers, it is way better than how it was before.

How have you been able to keep fit?

It is stress. I gain it and I lose it. I just lost a lot of weight and I like it.

Talking about children, are you walking down the aisle very soon?

Those are private things, when it happens you will see it.

What are the three things you look out for in a guy?

It is private.

How have you been able to keep off scandals?

I keep things simple. Simplicity is what makes you stay away from trouble. When you keep everything simple, it makes whatever comes back at you simple.

Take acting from Kehinde, who is Kehinde Bankole in real life?

I joke a lot, I like to laugh. When I’m in the mood, we crack jokes and laugh and also have a good time. I love to cook, I love spending time with family, loved ones and friends. I like to make people happy, and I can be very strict.

Daily Times Nigeria

Monday January 18, 2016

L3 Buzz Bytes

Mutiat Alli

ON Set

Movie title: Ghost Lover

Movie title: Internal Heat

Produced by: Obinna Onyemelukwe Cast: Junior Pope Odonwodo, Vivian Oyakhire, Dammy Eke, Felicia Fredd, Elvis Chibuikem, Jerry Williams Location: Asaba

Cast: Onii Micheal, Onyinye Okafor, Stephen Odimgbe amongst others.

Location: Asaba

Dammy Eke and Felicia Fredd

Oyinye Okafor and Stephen Odimgbe

Felicia Fedd and Elvis Chibuikem

Onii Micheal and Onyinye Okafor

Vivian Oyakhire and Junior Pope Odonwodo

Onyinye Okafor handling a pistol

Elvis Chibuikem and Dammy Eke

ON Set

Movie title: Undercover Lover

Movie title: Osun Sengese

Produced by: Spicylee Tee Films Location: Lekki Cast: Victoria Egbuchere, Kelechi Udeh, Alex Ekubo, Lilian Afegbai, Fred Aminu, chris Biyibi, Kiki Ifeanyi,

Produced by: Ronke Ojo Directed by: Adebayo Tijani and Rasaq Olayiwola Cast: Muyiwa Ademola, Faithia Balogun, Yinka Quadri, Ayo Adesanya, Wale Akorede aka Okunnu, Olaniyi Afonja aka Sanyeri Location: Osogbo

Kelechi Udeh and Victoria Egbuchere

Cross section of cast and crew

Ifeanyi Kalu and Celine Dumas Muyiwa Ademola and Ronke Oshodi-Oke

Chris Biyibi on set

Victoria Egbuchere and IK Ogbonna

Wale Okunnu, Rasaq Olayiwola and Fathia Balogun

Muyiwa Ademola playing the warrior

L4

Daily Times Nigeria

Monday January 18, 2016

Daily Times Nigeria

Monday January 18, 2016

L5

Wellness L6

Daily Times Nigeria

Monday January 18, 2016

Judith Frank-Edet

The

dark side of

slimming

pills

If you are still dealing with some of the struggles of weight loss, you often find yourself looking for magic solutions. Your desire push yourself past your goals can lead you to throw caution to the wind, all in the name of finally losing that annoying weight for good. When that starts to happen, you might find yourself drawn to a commercial or internet advertisement promoting some drugs that promise to dramatically boost your efforts. They are often marketed as a quick fix for long-term weight loss. They’ll draw you in with phrases like: “Burn fat instantly!”

“Suppress your appetite!”

“Eat whatever you want!”

“No exercise needed!”

As much as we might wish they were, weight loss pills are not a magic solution to losing weight. According to experts, weight loss pills can be effective when combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise, and can help you lose more weight than just diet and exercise alone. The combination of the three — eating less, exercising more and weight loss pills — can help you

lose between 5 percent and 10 percent of your total body weight within one year.

However, weight loss pills alone, without any lifestyle changes, are not a healthy or effective way to lose weight.

Then again, it is very important to be aware of the dangers and side effects of weight loss pills. Most weight loss pills are either appetite suppressants or stimulants, and they can have adverse effects on your heart rate, as well as gastrointestinal side effects. And because some weight loss pills hinder the absorption of some fat into your body, they also can prohibit the absorption of vital nutrients. Even the most effective diet pills are only meant to be taken for a short period of time -- usually six months or less.

Prescription weight loss pills are designed for people who are dangerously overweight, not just looking to lose a few pounds. On the other hand, Rapid weight loss pills which sounds more appealing, is dangerous and unhealthy.

As fat blockers like orlistat (Xenical) remove excess fats via the intestines, they may cause uncomfortable pains, gas and diarrhea and mood swings Because these

drugs also reduce the body’s absorption of essential vitamins and nutrients, people who take Xenical are advised to take a daily multivitamin supplement.

Sibutramine (Meridia) and other similar appetite suppressants stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, which can raise blood pressure and heart rate. This increases the risk of heart attack and cardiac arrest, especially among people who already suffer from high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat or heart disease. Other, more minor side effects include constipation, headache, dry mouth and insomnia (because the chemicals in these drugs also influence sleep patterns).

Herbal diet pills, even though they’re “all natural,” can have potentially dangerous side effects depending upon their ingredients. “Herbal” doesn’t necessarily mean “safe.” Also, some of them do not have NAFDAC registration and as a result, there is no guarantee that they can live up to their manufacturers’ claims. Many of these herbal slimming pills are a gimmick. There is no scientifically controlled evidence to prove that they work. A study released by the U.S. Department of Health and Hu-

man Services, found that out of 127 dietary supplements (including weight loss pills) 20 percent made illegal claims on the labels stating that the product cured or treated disease Besides, you could become addicted.

According to experts, slimming pills often contain amphetamines, anti-anxiety drugs, and antidepressants. Not only is this a dangerous mix, but these drugs are also highly addictive.

In addition they are mostly ineffective.

Many weight loss pills are simply a combination of caffeine and other diuretics, which cause water loss. Initially this results in a lower number on the scale, but this is not true fat loss and the water weight will return. Additionally, extreme water loss due to diet pills can cause dangerous dehydration.

Most importantly, Long term weight loss requires a change in your eating and exercise habits to adopt a healthier lifestyle.

Will you take them forever? No. Once you stop, you’ll be back to your poor habits and initial weight. So change your eating habits and exercise routine and quit looking for that magic pill that will make you lose weight without lifting a finger.

Daily Times Nigeria

Monday January 18, 2016

Joy Onyewuchi

Nutrition

for children and teens Nutrition for kids is based on the same principles as nutrition for adults. Everyone needs the same types of nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, protein and fat. Children, however, need different amounts of specific nutrients at different ages.

Healthy eating can stabilise children’s energy, sharpen their minds, and even out their moods. While peer pressure and TV commercials for junk food can make getting kids to eat well seem impossible, there are steps parents can take to instill healthy eating habits without turning mealtimes into a battle zone. By encouraging healthy eating habits now, you can make a huge impact on your children’s lifelong relationship with food and give them the best opportunity to grow into healthy, confident adults.

The childhood impulse to imitate is strong, so it’s important you act as a role model for your kids. It’s no good asking your child to eat fruit and vegetables while you gorge on potato chips and soda.

Tips to promote healthy childhood eating Focus on overall diet rather than specific foods.

Have regular family meals.

Cook more meals at home: Eating home cooked meal is healthier for the whole family. It sets a great example for kids about the importance of food and can bring a family together—even moody teenagers love to eat tasty, home-cooked meals! Restaurant and takeout meals tend to have a lot more unhealthy fat, sugar, and salt so cooking at home can have a huge impact on your kids’ health. And if you make large batches, cooking just once or twice can be enough to feed your family for the whole week.

Get kids involved: Children enjoy helping adults to shop for groceries, selecting what goes in their lunch box, and preparing dinner.

It’s also a chance for you to teach them about the nutritional values of different foods, and (for older children) how to read food labels.

Make a variety of healthy snacks available instead of empty calorie snacks: Keep plenty of fruit, vegetables, whole grain snacks, and healthy beverages (water, milk, pure fruit juice) around and easily accessible so kids become used to reaching for healthy snacks instead of empty calorie snacks like soda, chips, or cook-

ies.

Limit portion sizes: Don’t insist your child cleans the plate, and never use food as a reward or bribe.

Start your child’s day off right Studies show that kids who enjoy breakfast every day have better memories, more stable moods and energy, score higher on tests, and miss fewer days from school.

They are also less likely to experience problems with their weight.

Eating a breakfast high in quality protein from enriched cereal, yoghurt, milk, cheese, eggs, meat, or fish can help overweight teenagers eat fewer calories throughout the rest of the day and lose weight.

The ideal breakfast features plenty of “good” carbs (fruit, whole grain toast or cereal, for example) as well as high-quality protein.

Breakfast on a weekday needn’t be time consuming. Boil some eggs at the beginning of the week and offer them to your kids each morning along with a low-sugar, high-protein cereal and whole milk, and an apple to go.

An egg sandwich, a pot of Greek yoghurt or cottage cheese, or peanut butter on wholegrain toast can be eaten in the car on the way to school.

You can make breakfast burritos filled with scrambled eggs, cheese, chicken, or beef on a Sunday and freeze them for your kids to eat during the week.

L7 Nutrition

L8 TV guide

Daily Times Nigeria

Monday January 18, 2016

Showing on

Showing on

102 M-Net EDGE Channel

112 Studio Universal

01:00

05:20

Mon, 18 January | 13

Mon, 18 January | 16L

‘S3/E4 - Chapter 30’. Kevin Spacey stars as the ruthless politician Frank Underwood in this multiple Emmy award winning drama.

Claire Underwood struggles to salvage her Mideast peace plan in this episode.

101 M-Net West

A has-been divorcé basketball coach is asked to run the local high school girls basketball team. He finds an unexpected chance to get back on his feet again.

Emma Roberts, Rob Corddry, Sam Rockwell. (2009) James C. Strouse.

120 BBC Entertainment

118 Telemundo

128 SONY MAX

00:05 New Tricks 01:00 The Cube 01:50 Come Dine With Me 02:40 Downton Abbey 03:30 EastEnders 01:10 The Imposter 03:00 The Double 05:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 06:00 Modern Family 06:30 Blue Bloods 07:30 The Fixer 08:30 Moms’ Night Out 10:30 2 Broke Girls 11:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 12:00 MasterChef Australia 13:00 Nashville 14:00 Arrow 15:00 Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. 16:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 17:00 The Goldbergs 17:30 MasterChef Australia 18:30 Grey’s Anatomy 19:30 Mysteries Of Laura 20:30 Elementary 21:30 Carte Blanche 22:30 A Good Marriage 23:04 Strike Back 22:30 Mob City 23:00 Strike Back 23:50 Rome

04:00 EastEnders 00:30 The Impostor 01:20 The Impostor 02:10 The Impostor 03:00 The Impostor 03:50 The Impostor 05:20 The Del Monte Dynasty 06:10 Labour Of Love 07:00 Part Of Me 07:50 Queen Of Hearts 08:40 The Impostor 09:30 Forbidden Passions 10:20 Labour Of Love 11:10 Part Of Me 12:00 Queen Of Hearts 12:50 The Impostor 13:40 Forbidden Passions 14:30 Labour Of Love 15:20 Part Of Me 16:10 Queen Of Hearts 17:00 The Impostor 17:50 Forbidden Passions 18:40 Labour Of Love 19:30 Part Of Me 20:20 Queen Of Hearts 21:10 The Impostor 22:00 Forbidden Passions 22:50 Labour Of Love 23:05 Would I Lie To You?

04:30 EastEnders 05:00 Spy 05:25 QI 00:45 Perils Of The Sentimental Swordsman

06:00 The Thin Blue Line 06:30 EastEnders 07:00 Antiques Roadshow

16:30 Deal Or No Deal

02:15 Most Shocking

08:00 The Weakest Link

17:10 The Cube

03:10 Most Shocking

08:50 The Chase

18:05 Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

04:05 Exposed

19:00 Celebrity MasterChef

05:00 Criss Angel Mindfreak

20:00 Hell’s Kitchen USA

05:25 Exposed

21:00 Hell’s Kitchen USA

05:50 Exposed

21:50 The Graham Norton Show

06:15 Video Zonkers

22:45 Would I Lie To You?

06:40 Repo Games

23:45 Tanked

07:10 World’s Wildest Police Videos

09:35 Total Wipeout UK 10:30 The Cube 11:20 New Tricks 12:20 Top Gear 13:10 Come Dine With Me 14:10 Total Wipeout UK 15:10 The Weakest Link 16:00 EastEnders

155 AfricaMagic World

00:05 President For A Day 01:10 Sequence 02:00 Jara 02:30 Jara 03:00 Good Morning Africa 04:05 53 Extra

08:10 Disorderly Conduct: Video On Patrol 09:10 South Beach Tow 09:40 Most Shocking 10:40 Most Shocking 11:40 Video Zonkers 12:10 Repo Games 12:40 World’s Wildest Police Videos

154 AfricaMagic Family 04:50 Perfect Union 06:00 Good Morning Africa 07:00 Star Gist 07:25 Vanity’s Last Game 08:30 Living With Trisha 09:25 The African Child 10:00 Good Morning Africa 11:00 Tinsel 11:30 Star Gist 12:00 Music Block 13:00 At Home With Joselyn Dumas 14:00 Prem 14:30 Goge Africa 15:00 Family Ties 15:30 At Home With Michelle Attoh 16:30 Living With Trisha 17:30 Comfort Zone 18:00 Meet The Adebanjos

04:30 Exposed

13:40 Disorderly Conduct: Video On Patrol 14:40 South Beach Tow 15:10 Exposed 01:00 Series TBA 02:30 Good Morning Africa 03:30 Good Morning Africa 04:30 Prem 05:00 Good Morning Africa 06:00 My Good Will 09:00 Good Morning Africa 10:00 So Wrong So Wright 10:30 So Wrong So Wright 11:00 Lies That Bind 11:30 Lies That Bind 12:00 Jara 12:30 Jara 13:00 Series TBA 14:00 53 Extra

14:30 53 Extra 15:00 Kakibe Ki 15:30 Noose Of Gold 16:00 Foot Print 16:30 Lies That Bind 17:00 Lies That Bind 17:30 Star Gist 18:00 Star Gist 18:30 Star Gist 19:00 Prem 19:25 So Wrong So Wright 20:00 Secret Adventure 22:40 Series TBA 22:55 Series TBA 23:45 Why Stop Now? 18:30 So Wrong So Wright

15:40 Criss Angel Mindfreak 16:10 1000 Ways To Die 16:40 Video Zonkers 17:05 Repo Games 17:30 World’s Wildest Police Videos 18:30 South Beach Tow 19:00 Disorderly Conduct: Video On Patrol 20:00 Max Knight: Ultra Spy 21:30 Poorman’s Bikini Beach 22:00 Kenny vs Spenny 22:30 Tool Academy